The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr. Kingsley Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General of Enugu State, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Udeh’s confirmation followed a thorough screening session on the Senate floor, where lawmakers engaged him on a range of national, legal, and diplomatic issues.
Born in 1978, Udeh previously served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, earning a reputation for reform-driven governance and legal excellence.
During the screening, senators questioned him about Nigeria’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments regarding the country’s security challenges.
In his response, Udeh said President Bola Tinubu was handling the situation “through diplomatic channels,” emphasizing that the issue was “a matter of diplomacy rather than law.”
He also spoke extensively on the long-standing debate over the separation of the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, noting that the integrity and independence of the officeholder were more important than the structure itself.
“Whether the offices are separated or not, what truly matters is the strength of character, integrity, and independence of whoever occupies them,” Udeh told the lawmakers.
Following his responses, the senators expressed satisfaction with his submissions and asked him to take a bow, a gesture traditionally signaling endorsement.
Dr. Udeh’s confirmation comes after the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, who stepped down amid a certificate controversy.
With his confirmation, Dr. Udeh is expected to bring his wealth of legal experience and reform-oriented perspective to President Tinubu’s cabinet, reinforcing Enugu’s growing influence in the nation’s governance landscape.
