BREAKING: Drama In Senate Over ‘Discrepancies’ In Ministerial Nominee’s Biodata (DETAILS)

BREAKING: Drama In Senate Over ‘Discrepancies’ In Ministerial Nominee’s Biodata (DETAILS)

There was a dramatic moment in the Senate on Monday when ministerial nominee Joseph Utsev from Benue State faced questioning from lawmakers due to “discrepancies” in his biodata.

Utsev began his introductory comments at 02:07 pm after the Senate had screened former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

He stated that he was born in Gboko, Benue State on December 2, 1980, and attended the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, where he studied Civil Engineering and graduated with a Second Class Upper in 2004. He also mentioned his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kaduna in 2006 and his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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Senator Tokunbo Abiru from Lagos East Senatorial District raised concerns about the timeline in Utsev’s biodata. He pointed out that Utsev claimed to have attended St. John Primary School in 1989, which would mean he finished primary school at the age of three. Abiru also questioned the number of years it took Utsev to obtain his first degree despite his academic brilliance.

Utsev clarified that he started primary school in 1984 and obtained his first school leaving certificate in 1989. He continued to secondary school from 1990 to 1995, and due to a prolonged ASUU strike, he graduated in 2004.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio intervened, suggesting that Utsev may have started nursery school at the age of three and began primary school at the same age. He jokingly said the nominee was “exceptionally brilliant” and may have been a classmate of Senator Abba Moro.

Senator Moro from Benue South Senatorial District urged his colleagues to give the nominee the benefit of the doubt.

Akpabio then stated that the discrepancies in Utsev’s biodata were likely due to a typo error.

Senator Titus Zam Tartenger from Benue North-West Senatorial District later clarified that there was no discrepancy in the professor’s biodata.

Senator Ishaku Abbo from Adamawa North Senatorial District shared a “personal story” of sitting for a common entrance examination in Primary 3 due to his exceptional brilliance.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, in Akpabio’s temporary absence, asked Utsev to “bow and go” at 02:53 pm, with the promise of further communication if necessary.