President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested the Senate to confirm Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as a minister representing Enugu State.

Udeh currently serves as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State. If confirmed, he will replace Uche Nnaji, who recently resigned as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology following allegations of certificate forgery.

Tinubu made the request through a formal letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read during Tuesday’s plenary. He cited Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for the nomination and urged the Senate to give the request urgent consideration.

Part of the letter reads:

“In compliance with the provisions of Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby forward to the Senate the nomination of Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh for confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I trust this will receive your usual prompt consideration.”

The Senate subsequently referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate review.

The ministerial position for Enugu became vacant on October 7 following Nnaji’s resignation amid certificate forgery allegations.