By Chimaobi Afiauwa, Abuja
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North District, has shed light on why his constituent, Urum Kalu Eke, declined the appointment to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Board of Directors, leaving the South East without representation.
MUK TV recalls that Mr. Eke, a former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings PLC, who hails from the Abiriba part of Abia North, had been nominated to fill the slot representing the South East on the apex bank’s board, which seemed promising.
However, in a stunning turn of events, Eke stunned the Senate by rejecting his appointment, leaving lawmakers astounded during the screening exercise.
The revelation came to light during Senate plenary, as disclosed by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, while presenting the Committee’s report on the CBN Board of Director nominees.
Despite the confirmation of four other nominees, Eke’s absence and subsequent rejection of the appointment, conveyed through Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, threw the proceedings into disarray.
Senator Kalu, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, revealed that Eke cited his role as a consultant to the World Bank and other international financial institutions, rendering him unable to fulfill the duties of a CBN Director without a conflict of interest.
“During the screening exercise, Urum Kalu Eke from Abia North called me for not attending the session.
“He said as a consultant to the World Bank and other international financial institutions, he wouldn’t take the appointment to avoid a conflict of interest,” Leadership quoted the lawmaker as saying to his colleagues.
With Eke’s absence, the Senate proceeded to confirm the four nominees from other geopolitical zones, temporarily leaving the South East without a representative at the CBN Board.
