Professor Pat Utom

Nigeria’s leading human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, former  managing director of Nigerian Breweries Limited, Mr. Festus Odimegwu and a former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, may have booked spots in the much awaited  list of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The PUNCH reported today that the men  have been screened by the Department of State Services, a pre-nomination ritual in Federal cabinet appointments in Nigeria.

Other people  said to  have made the list are  a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former Chief of Army staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.); and  a former chief executive of the Federal Inland Revenue, Service,  Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru.

Femi Falana

Also on the list are  the  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).

Although there was no official confirmation of the report, the newspaper relied on some authoritative sources, close to the screening.

President Buhari, who departs this morning for a three day visit to France, promised last week  in Accra, Ghana, that he would name members of his cabinet this month. President Buhari, according to spokesman, Malam Garba  Shehu is not planning to have a big cabinet like in the past, as he is planning to prune Federal ministries from 42 to 19.