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.
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.