Senate Clears Air on Alleged IPOB, FCT Petitions Against Omokri

Senate Clears Air on Alleged IPOB, FCT Petitions Against Omokri

The Nigerian Senate has dismissed claims that it received petitions from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Abuja indigenes, or any other group opposing the screening of ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, including Reno Omokri.

The denial followed reports suggesting coordinated opposition against some nominees, notably Omokri, former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, and former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, ahead of their confirmation.

Reacting to the claims, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, spokesperson of the Senate, said the upper legislative chamber had not received any formal petition from any individual or organisation.

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“What is IPOB? That group is outlawed and proscribed. It is not recognised by our laws and Constitution. We did not receive any petition from anybody — not individuals, not organisations, and certainly not outlawed groups,” Adaramodu said.

He stressed that the Senate only considers petitions from identifiable individuals, corporate bodies or registered political parties, dismissing reports of opposition from unrecognised or faceless entities.

The clarification came as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs continued the screening of ambassadorial nominees, entering the second day of the exercise on Thursday.

Earlier, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a human rights lawyer and counsel to IPOB, had publicly urged the Senate to reject Omokri’s nomination, describing it as a “national embarrassment” and questioning his suitability for diplomatic service.

However, the Senate maintained that no such petition was formally presented, insisting that the ambassadorial screening process is proceeding without official objections from any recognised body.

Senate Clears Air on Alleged IPOB, FCT Petitions Against Omokri