Senate Confirms Kingsley Ude as Minister After Intense Screening Drama

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Kingsley Ude, SAN, from Enugu State, as a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, following a heated screening session on the Senate floor.

Ude, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, faced tough questions from lawmakers on both national and international issues before his confirmation.

The session took a dramatic turn when Senator Abdul Ningi asked Ude to share his views on the ongoing “Trump threat”, seeking his perspective on possible solutions. The question sparked a brief uproar among senators, with some arguing that the nominee had already demonstrated his competence and should not be further grilled.

Responding diplomatically, Ude said President Bola Tinubu was managing the issue “diplomatically,” stressing that it was “more a matter of diplomacy than law.”

Senator Adamu Aliero later questioned Ude on the possible separation of the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice. In his reply, Ude noted that “whether separated or fused, the success of that office depends on the individual’s ability to resist political influence.”

Apparently satisfied with his responses, the Senate asked Ude to “take a bow and leave,” marking his formal confirmation as minister.

His appointment comes weeks after the resignation of Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down amid a certificate scandal.