The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Dr. Kingsley Ude, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu State, as a Minister of the Federal Republic. The approval followed his screening on Thursday.
Kingsley Tochukwu Ude, born in 1978, previously served as Enugu State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. During his session, senators questioned him on national and diplomatic issues, including Nigeria’s response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statements.
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Addressing the concerns, Ude said, “President Bola Tinubu is managing the situation through diplomatic channels. This is a matter of diplomacy rather than law.” On the debate over separating the offices of Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he added, “The success of either arrangement depends on the integrity and independence of the officeholder.”
The confirmation follows the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down amid questions over his academic and NYSC credentials. Ude’s appointment restores Enugu State’s representation in the federal cabinet.
President Tinubu had formally nominated Ude in a letter to the Senate, which was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and referred for screening before final approval.