By Deborah Nnamdi
The Senate has confirmed Dr. Kingsley Ude, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu Statek, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
His confirmation followed a screening session held on Th)ursday on the Senate floor, where lawmakers engaged the nominee on a range of national and international issues.
Born in 1978, Ude previously served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State. During the screening, Senator Abdul Ningi drew attention when he asked Ude to comment on the “ongoing Trump threat” and propose possible solutions—a question that briefly stirred debate among senators.
Some lawmakers argued that Ude had already demonstrated sufficient competence and should not face further grilling.
Responding, Ude noted that President Bola Tinubu was addressing the issue through diplomatic channels, stressing that it was “more a matter of diplomacy than law.”
Senator Adamu Aliero also sought his opinion on whether the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice should be separated. Ude replied that the effectiveness of the role “depends on the individual and whether he allows himself to be politically influenced or not.”
Satisfied with his responses, the Senate asked him to take a bow and leave before confirming his appointment.
Ude’s nomination comes weeks after the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who exited President Tinubu’s cabinet amid a certificate scandal.
