However, a third nominee, Professor Fatima Alkali, declined the appointment, prompting a recommendation for her replacement.
Chairman of the Senate Committee overseeing the screening, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, told lawmakers that the committee had requested and received all necessary documentation, including curriculum vitae and supporting materials, from the nominees.
“On Wednesday, 25th June 2025, two of the nominees appeared before the committee. The third one, Professor Fatima Alkali, turned down the appointment,” Adegbonmire disclosed during plenary.
In light of Alkali’s decision, the committee has advised that a new nominee — specifically a female candidate from Nigeria’s north-east — be considered in her place, citing the need for gender balance and regional equity.
