The Senate on Wednesday subjected three ambassadorial nominees to rigorous questioning before eventually clearing them for appointment, following a tense but detailed screening session that focused heavily on issues of national security and competence.

The three nominees cleared by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs are former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat, London. Ayo Oke, career diplomat and former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Amin Muhammad Dalhatu and former Director General of the State Security Service, Lateef Kayode Are.

The session came alive when one of the nominees, a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, addressed controversies that had trailed his tenure and publicly responded to allegations recently revived in the media and political circles.

He began by thanking the Senate for the opportunity to speak, specifically acknowledging Senators Seriake Dickson and Adams Oshiomhole for raising issues he described as “already in the public domain.”

Seeking the committee’s permission to address the concerns, he stated that while he would not delve into sensitive operational details, he was prepared to clarify key points.

Oke said that between 2013 and 2017, under his leadership, the NIA recorded what he described as “unprecedented progress—organizational, operational, and infrastructural.”

He cited, as an example, the construction of what he called “the best conference centre in the country,” noting that he built it on what he met as an empty field when he assumed office.

He insisted the agency reached heights it had never attained in its three decades of existence prior to his appointment.

Touching on the controversial covert operation that has trailed his name for years, he stated that the “clandestine operation” enjoyed the approval of two Presidents, stressing that his actions were taken strictly in service of national security.

Quoting author Philip Yancey on the unpredictability of life, he likened his ordeal to the biblical trials of Joseph, Job, Esther, and Ruth.

He said he bore the turbulence with equanimity and faith, anchored by three personal principles—God, country, and honour—values he said guided his 38-year career in public service.

However, he revealed that the ordeal deeply affected him and his family, recalling that he lost his 86-year-old mother during the period, which he attributed partly to distress caused by “lies and damaging narratives” surrounding the case.

Members of the committee acknowledged the sensitivity of the issues raised and commended the nominee for his responses.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello reminded all nominees to formally engage senators from their home states, saying endorsement from at least two state senators remained a requirement for clearance.

Despite the intensity of the session, committee members noted that all three nominees brought strong credentials to the table, with longstanding experience in public service, diplomacy, intelligence, and administration.

They concluded that the nominees possessed the requisite expertise and discipline to serve effectively as ambassadors.

The chairman described President Bola Tinubu’s selection as “a very good choice,” adding that the nominees had demonstrated competence and readiness for the task ahead.

At the end of deliberations, the committee unanimously recommended their confirmation by the Senate. (The Nation)