Germany has delivered a diplomatic shocker to Nigeria, rejecting President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nomination of Femi Fani-Kayode over what it described as troubling past divisive remarks and conduct.
The former minister was among ambassadorial nominees approved by Tinubu on March 6 for ambassadorial postings.
However, the German government reportedly turned him down just days later, on March 13, 2026.
Citing reasons for the snub, German authorities pointed to his “erratic behaviour, controversial past statements, particularly his divisive ethnocentric, tribalistic, and religious fundamentalist comments in Nigeria”, which it said were “destabilising”.
The rejection comes on the heels of a recent diplomatic embarrassment involving Fani-Kayode, who reportedly clashed with the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, during a Ramadan dinner in Abuja.
As of Sunday, the outspoken politician had yet to publicly respond to the development.
Insiders, however, say the Tinubu administration may be considering redeploying him to South Africa instead, as reported by Peoples Gazette.
Fani-Kayode, known for his fiery rhetoric, has repeatedly courted controversy over the years.
In 2020, he sparked outrage after lashing out at a journalist, Eyo Charles, during a press conference in Calabar, calling him “stupid” and dismissing his question as “insulting” before later issuing an apology.
He has also faced public scrutiny over a child custody dispute with his estranged wife, Precious Chikwendu.
The former minister was equally entangled in multiple cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, including allegations of fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
However, between 2024 and 2025, the courts dismissed all charges, citing lack of evidence linking him to the alleged offences.
