World Bank Consultant Turns Down CBN Board Nomination

A nominee for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Board of Directors, Urum Kalu Eke, has rejected his nomination by President Bola Tinubu, citing his current engagement with the World Bank as a reason.
Eke, who hails from Abia State, was one of the five nominees sent by the President to the Senate for confirmation on February 13. However, he did not show up for the screening by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions.
The former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu, (APC, Abia North) revealed this on Thursday during the plenary session, when the Senate was about to confirm the other four nominees. He said Eke had called him on the phone and informed him of his decision to decline the offer.
“He told me this role would conflict with his job as a consultant to the World Bank, Federal Government agencies and other private companies,” Kalu said.
The Senate proceeded to confirm the appointment of the remaining four nominees, namely Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu, as members of the CBN Board of Directors.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, (APC, Lagos East) presented the report of the screening of the nominees and said they met the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.