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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nominations of former Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation – Chief Ojo Maduekwe and Fidelia Njeze – as ambassadors.

Also confirmed were returnee ambassador, Esther Audu and 80 others.

Out of the 88 nominees sent to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan, 32 were political nominations, while 56 were career ambassadors.

Eighty seven of them appeared before the screening committee, but only 84 passed the screening.

Two of the nominees, Mrs. Sifawu Momoh, Edo; and Mazi Okafor Ojih, Ebonyi, could not scale the screening as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs did not recommend them for confirmation.

On Abubakar Bunu, who was later confirmed, the committee said, “He demonstrated a fair knowledge of Nigerian issues, but his knowledge of Foreign relations, diplomacy and global affairs was not impressive. The committee did not find him suitable.”

The committee said of Momoh, “The nominee was not expressive when she appeared for the screening. She was nervous in her response to issues raised before her. She is not good in foreign relations, diplomacy or general questions. The committee was convinced that she is not a good material for ambassadorial appointment.”

On Ojih, it noted that he was not forthcoming “with good responses to questions raised before him during the screening. The committee was not impressed with his performance which was below average.”

Bianca Ojukwu, who was nominated to represent Anambra State on the list of non-career category, did not appear for screening.

Among those confirmed as non-career Ambassadors are, Mr. James Barka, Adamawa; Chief Asam Asam(SAN), Akwa Ibom; Mr. Okwudili Nwosu, Anambra; Mr. Okeke Chukwuemeka, Anambra; Mr. Eric Aworahbi, Bayelsa; Chive Kaave, Benue; Dauda Danladi, Borno; and Mrs. Katherine Okon, Cross River.

; Mr. Nwofe Alexander, Ebonyi; Princess Victorial Bosede Onipede, Ekiti; Senator Haruna Garba, Gombe; Mrs. Nonye Rajis-Okpara, Imo; Chief Eddy Onuoha, Imo; Mr. Adamu Babangida Ibrahim, Katsina; Alhaji Tukur Mani, Katsina; Mr. Biodun Olorunfemi, Kogi; Mr. Olatokunbo Kamson, Lagos; Dr. Sam Jimba, Nasarawa; and Mr. Cornelius Oluwateru, Ondo.

All the career Ambassadors nominated were cleared by the committee, and the Senate at plenary confirmed the 56 nominees.

President of the Senate, David Mark, however asked the committee to rescreen the three nominees who failed the first screening within seven days, given the sensitive nature of the assignment involved.