Drama As Ministerial Nominee Faces Age Controversy During Screening

One of the ministerial nominees presented for screening by President Bola Tinubu caused a stir among the Senators on Monday during the screening exercise due to controversies regarding his age.

Naija News gathered discrepancies in the CV presented by Prof Joseph Utsev from Benue State caused a division among the lawmakers during his screening.

According to his document, he was born in 1980 and had his first school leaving certificate in 1989.

This made the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio who presided over the screening raise questions about the dates. However, Senator Abba Moro stood to say it was a typographical error in Utsev’s CV after the nominee had tried defending it.

Prof. Utsev is the third nominee to be screened today but his screening has been held up following discrepancies and inconsistencies noticed in his age.

The attention of the Senate was drawn to the ‘great discrepancies’ in the bio data of the nominee by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East.

The nominee, he said, claimed to have been “born on 2nd December, 1980.

“Looking further down, you attended St John’s Primary School, Gboko. You just wrote 1989. I’m wondering whether you finished primary school in 1989, which would suggest that you either started primary school at the age of three or two for you to finish in 1989.

“You also claimed that you went to secondary school in 1995. What appears distorted for me is that given your academic excellence, you graduated in 2004, meaning you probably have spent 9 years for your first degree.

“I want you to clarify why it took you that long to graduate despite your academic brilliance?” The senator asked.

Trying to defend his papers, the nominee explained that, “Yes, I went to primary school in the year 1984. 1989 was the year when I got my first leaving certificate.

“I started in 1984, 1985, 1986…”

The explanation however generated a rowdy session and more Senators expressed intressed in grilling him based on the discrepancies in date.

“1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989. That was when I passed out with my first school leaving certificate.

“I furthered my secondary school in 1990. 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95. That’s when I got my SSCE.

“Then I graduated in 2004. I was actually supposed to pass out in 2003. But there was a prolonged strike by ASUU then.

“I did a five year programme on Engineering which I was supposed to stay there for five years. But because of the prolonged strike by ASUU, I spent six years to finish the programme,” he continued.

However, amidst the drama, the Senate President attempted to intervene by saying the discrepancies must have come from typographical errors but the Senators shouted no.

Akpabio continued, “He’s a brilliant man,” and he “has proven’ his suitability.

The floor became rowdy when Akpabio again asked him to “take a bow and go” with the senators opposing him.

Senators Titus Zam, and Abba Moro, both from Benue State also defended the credibility of Prof. Utsev.

Akpabio however directed his colleagues to stop asking him further questions relating to his bio-data and the apparent discrepancies on his CV but focus on his area of expertize.

Utsev was eventually asked to “take a bow and go.”

The full list of nominees expected to be screened today are:

1. Sen.Abubakar S.Kyari – Borno State

2. Abubakar Eshiokpekha Momoh – Edo State

3. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike – Rivers State

4, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev – Benue State

5. Sen. John Owan Enoh – Cross River State

6. Hon.(Bar) Bello Muhammad -Sokoto State

7. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar – Jigawa State

8. Amb.Yusuf Maitama Tuggar – Bauchi State

9. Sen. Abubakar Sani Danladi – Taraba State

10. Barr. Uju-Ken Ohaneye – Anambra State

11, Hon. (Dr). Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo – Ondo State

12. Dr. Betta C.Edu Cross River State

13. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim – Nasarawa State

14. Arch. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa – Katsina State

15. Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji – Enugu State

16. Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete – Delta State

Mr Abubakar Momoh and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike have already been successfully screened.