The Nigerian Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr. Kingsley Ude, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu State, as a Minister of the Federal Republic, following a screening session held during plenary.
Ude’s confirmation comes after the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down last month over a certificate scandal.
Born in 1978, Ude previously served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, where he earned a reputation for his reform-driven approach to justice administration.
During Thursday’s screening, senators engaged him on a range of national and international issues, including Nigeria’s diplomatic stance following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning about potential American military intervention if Nigeria fails to protect its Christian population.
Responding, Ude said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was addressing the issue “through established diplomatic channels,” adding that the matter required careful diplomacy rather than legal confrontation.
“It is a matter of diplomacy rather than law. The President and our foreign affairs team are handling it in line with Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to peaceful international engagement,” Ude said.
The nominee also weighed in on the ongoing national debate over whether to separate the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice, a reform some legal experts have been advocating for.
“The success or failure of either arrangement depends largely on the integrity and independence of whoever occupies the office,” Ude stated.
After fielding questions from lawmakers, the Senate expressed satisfaction with his responses and asked him to “take a bow,” in line with parliamentary tradition for nominees with distinguished service records. His confirmation was then approved by voice vote.
With his confirmation, Dr. Ude is expected to be sworn in by President Tinubu in the coming days as part of the Federal Executive Council.
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