NewStats: 3,262,892 , 8,178,478 topics. Date: Wednesday, 04 June 2025 at 12:03 AM 69473d

A FORMER Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Limited, Mr. Festus Odimegwu and a former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, are among the ministerial nominees that have been screened by the Department of State Service, The PUNCH learnt authoritatively on Sunday.

Those already said to have been screened as nominees for President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet also include a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a Lagos-lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).
Also on the list are a former Chief of Army, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazu (retd.); an ex-chief executive of the Federal Inland Revenue, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru; a former finance commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Wale Edun; and a former National Legal Adviser to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, Abubakar Malami (SAN).


According to PUNCH it was learnt that the screening of the nominees had been concluded on Friday. Buhari had last week at a press briefing in Accra, Ghana, that he would name of his cabinet this month.
Punch correspondents gathered that some of the nominees had appeared before the DSS.

None of the names on the list however confirmed that they had been screened when our correspondents ed them on Sunday.
It was gathered that they had been instructed not to leak details of their screening to the media.

‘‘What was done was not physical screening but mainly background checking,” one of the already-screened nominees told one of our correspondents late on Sunday.


Multiple sources within the All Progressives Congress told The Punch on Sunday that Falana was favoured by a camp in the party to emerge as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

A top APC chieftain said the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had convinced Buhari to appoint Falana.
Tinubu and Osinbajo were said to have told Buhari that appointing Falana, who he jailed over 30 years ago, would boost his image as a ‘converted democrat.’

It was, however, learnt that Malami was being favoured by the President.
A source within the party added power blocs within Falana’s home state, Ekiti, might not be disposed to the choice of the human rights lawyer because he is not a member of the APC.

The APC has three former governors in Ekiti State: Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi.
An APC top official said, “Falana has already been screened by the DSS. However, Buhari is closer to Malami who is from the North.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/ministerial-list-dss-screens-odimegwu-falana-utomi-others/

OK. I don hear

These are the kind of people we need as Ministers. Unlike those drunks who constituted Jonathan's cabinet. Ministry of Finance would soon welcome our (Igarra) in-law as its Head as the former Head (Okonjo-Iweala) would soon be heading to Prison. .Those PDPians won't like seeing this at all.

Lalasticlala, food is read, we're waiting for alolo!!

http://www.punchng.com/news/ministerial-list-dss-screens-odimegwu-falana-utomi-others/

Prof Utomi !? .....
I can't wait........

ofala:
Prof Utomi !? .....

I can't wait........

what I used to think but no be by grammar o. Hope he no fall our hand

ofala:
Prof Utomi !? .....

I can't wait........

Politics is a dirty game. I was dumbstruck when my Favourite Reuben Abati took up appointment with PDP even though I'm a PDP Blood. Still have utmost respect for him. I hope Femi Falana and Pat Utomi will not dislocate our shoulder(fall hand) when they get dia

*modified*
So this thread hit FP last last? So na so LadyF and Introvert take dey do am? Late night commenting? Anyway LadyF u know "awa" thread shebi? Go an announce my landing on d big time there o

Ok o.
As for me, I will just wait for the real list to come before I comment. For now, I comment my reserve.

I can't wait for the list. it's gonna be very interesting. I have one advice though for the eWAILERS. The should start wailing practice ahead of time cos there is going to be a lot of wailing.

Slow and steady.....




God bless Nigeria /Nigerians

We are getting there
With the way things are going it's only a matter of time and Nigeria would be great Again.. .

.

That's why Prof Pat Utomi was defending APC since. Anyway all the best i am only happy one Man name is not there.

So even when it is glaring that someone down south is qualified for the job, tinubu and osinbajo still need to convince him and even bring his political image into it before he can appoint the person. For a northerner, no need for all that, he already knows he is the right person. Begging for what collectively belongs to us all.

Pat utomi? Yes. Buhari should give him petroleum minister. - Anioma representing..
Nnpc and Petroleum minister will be wow.

what of 'the lion of ubime'

This list is fake, 90% of them are not even on the list. Nigerians should wait for the official Ministerial list

M4gunners:
That's why Prof Pat Utomi was defending APC since. Anyway all the best i am only happy one Man name is not there.

who

dayo23:
I hope GEJ is watching

he is

M4gunners:
That's why Prof Pat Utomi was defending APC since. Anyway all the best i am only happy one Man name is not there.

Anyone who failed to root for alternative to PDP after 16yrs of lackluster performance in government, expecially the ones characterized last 6yrs under GEJ, is an enemy of progress and should as well has his head examined. Pat Utomi like every other right thinking Nigerians understood that another 4yrs under GEJ would definitely collapse this nation. He did what he had to do for the progress of our nation. I am very sure not because of appointment from APC camp.

agarawu23:
he is

Let wait for the official Ministerial list

I love utomi no homo. Minister of economy!
If falana made minister of justice and attorney general, mehn! Looters are in big mess


I've never been so in love wit governance in nigeria as this


God bless nigerians that resisted the temptation of free dollars to vote PMB

Its high time we put our political affiliation aside cuz this the best istration for our dear motherland


I believed a long time ago that the wellness has begun!

Oyinlola lacks moral justification to be on the list. He is an election fraudster & a corrupt politician. I see baba iyabo's hand in his inclusion. Mr Utomi has alwaz been my dream finance minister. God bless #pmb

Prof. Utomi, Abu Malami (SAN), Festus Odimegwu, Falana...

All I see are seasoned technocrats with the capacity to help deliver the Nigeria we have desired for ages, these are the same individuals that criticised the old order so It is reasonable to expect they have made sufficient observations that will enable them hit the ground running and apply the recommendations they have been making for decades...

Kai. Sai Buhari!

The SS/SW guns were mostly activists, just like Oshomole was.

Well, while we stand akimbo, let's observe who will start dropping the balls once confirmed and sworn in. Then we can start addressing their bomboms

What is Festus odimegwu doing in that list? I thought he was in pdp.

Signs of good things to come

Watching

nnachukz:
So even when it is glaring that someone down south is qualified for the job, tinubu and osinbajo still need to convince him and even bring his political image into it before he can appoint the person. For a northerner, no need for all that, he already knows he is the right person. Begging for what collectively belongs to us all.

tell that one to ur clueless corrupt hero

kikesblog:

http://www.punchng.com/news/ministerial-list-dss-screens-odimegwu-falana-utomi-others/

oyinlola.. I hope he didn't bribe them over there

vision 2020 is just remaining 5 years

I counted 8 names on the writeup. 6 South, 2 North. I guess it is true that "In the fullness of time" everything will balance out. Only 1 woman, though.

Mr President, please also ensure Affirmative Action for women, not only Federal Character.

Good governance loading.....