Amid criticisms, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of the immediate past Service Chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

The confirmed ambassadors are former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; and the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

Others are former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman.

The Senate Minority Leader Enyinaya Abaribe, however, questioned the nomination and confirmation of the ex-service chiefs when the Senate had on three different occasions called for their sack.

Senator Abaribe also questioned why the petitions against the former service chiefs were dismissed without explanations.

But Senate President Ahmad Lawan dismissed Senator Abaribe’s concerns, ruling that the nomination of the former service chiefs cannot be nullified simply because the upper chamber had called for their sack, noting that their screening was for a different assignment.

The Senate President, who promptly stopped any further debate on the matter, said in his concluding statement the former service chiefs have served the country to the best of their abilities.

He urged the Executive to utilise their experiences as much as possible, advising the executive to post the nominees to countries where they will be useful.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on February 4, nominated the past service chiefs as ambassadors.

The former service chiefs were appointed as non-career ambassadors-designate a week after their replacement with new officers.

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