Tinubu’s Envoys: Strong Picks, But Ikoyi Scandal Shadows One Nominee
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of three non-career ambassadors for Nigeria’s most strategic diplomatic postings—Washington, London and Paris—has triggered both praise and concern among foreign-policy experts, security analysts and senior diplomats. The nominees are:
Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)
Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa)
Ambassador Ayodele “Ayo” Oke (Oyo)
These three positions—USA, UK and France—represent the backbone of Nigeria’s global engagement, covering billions of dollars in trade, critical intelligence partnerships, defence cooperation, and political influence. They are postings that can strengthen or weaken Nigeria’s international reputation within a single diplomatic cycle.
The National Patriots, in their preliminary review, describe the nominations as “mixed but potentially impactful,” with sharp differences in suitability and public perception. While two nominees bring strong experience and clean records, the third carries unresolved controversies that risk overshadowing Nigeria’s foreign-policy goals.
Below is a comprehensive, objective profile and analysis of each nominee.
KAYODE ARE: The Intelligence Professional Built for Washington
Profile:
Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are, former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS/DSS), is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most competent intelligence administrators. Commissioned from the Nigerian Defence Academy (Regular Course 12), he served in the Directorate of Military Intelligence before leading the DSS for eight years—one of the longest tenures in the agency’s history.
Academically, he is exceptional: a First-Class degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy.
Why He Fits the U.S. Mission
The U.S.–Nigeria relationship today revolves around:
Counter-terrorism
Military procurement
Intelligence sharing
Technology security
Sanctions and compliance
Immigration and diaspora issues
These are exactly the issues Are has handled throughout his career.
Strengths:
Deep understanding of intelligence cooperation
High credibility with security partners
Strong reputation for discipline and professionalism
Zero public scandals
Trusted across administrations
The National Patriots previously considered him for recognition as a “Patriot Per Excellence”—an endorsement very few public officers receive.
Weaknesses:
Not a traditional career diplomat
Requires a strong chancery with experienced foreign-service officers to handle economic, multilateral and diaspora work
Verdict:
A high-confidence choice for Washington if backed by a capable diplomatic team.
AMIN MOHAMMED DALHATU: The Clean, Quiet Career Diplomat
Profile:
Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu is the only nominee with pure foreign-service DNA. A disciplined career diplomat, he previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea, where he handled trade, technology cooperation, and political relations with one of Asia’s most important economies.
Dalhatu has no scandals, no negative press, and no ethical blemishes. His reputation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of competence and calm professionalism.
Strengths:
Real ambassadorial experience
Career diplomat with institutional memory
Impeccable integrity
Technical knowledge of diplomatic procedure
Excellent fit for a G7 capital with complex political and economic demands
Weaknesses:
Limited public profile beyond Korea
Less visible experience with high-intensity, high-pressure Western diplomacy
Will require strong senior staff support in economic and multilateral sections
Verdict:
A safe, credible nominee—easiest to defend during Senate screening and highly likely to succeed with the right support staff.
AYO OKE: A Brilliant Diplomat with Heavy Ikoyi Baggage
Profile:
Ambassador Ayodele “Ayo” Oke is a seasoned diplomat and former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He previously represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, giving him substantial multilateral exposure.
On merit alone, Oke has one of the strongest CVs in the foreign-policy community.
But his nomination carries a major reputational crisis.
THE IKOYI CASH SCANDAL — THE FACTS
In April 2017, the EFCC discovered:
$43.45 million
£27,800
₦23.2 million
hidden in Flat 7B, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, linked to Oke’s wife through Chobe Ventures Ltd.
Key outcomes:
■ The money and property were forfeited to the Federal Government.
■ Oke was suspended and later dismissed as NIA DG.
■ EFCC filed corruption charges against him and his wife.
■ In 2023, the charges were withdrawn on “national security grounds.”
■ There was no acquittal, only discontinuation.
Both Nigerians and international observers widely believe the matter ended in a political resolution, not full accountability.
Strengths:
Strong diplomatic and intelligence experience
Knows the UK and Commonwealth system
Deep institutional knowledge
Critical Weaknesses:
The Ikoyi scandal is globally known
Risk of domestic uproar and civil-society backlash
Western capitals may read this as Nigeria lowering its own ethical standards
Damages Nigeria’s anti-corruption credibility
Verdict:
Technically capable but politically toxic.
This nomination should be reconsidered in Nigeria’s own national interest.
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS TO G7 CAPITALS — STRATEGIC OR SHORT-SIGHTED?
The U.S., UK and France are not ceremonial postings. They shape:
billions in annual trade
defence cooperation
credit, sanctions and financial intelligence
global diplomacy
diaspora affairs
investment flows
Nigeria must avoid repeating mistakes where non-career ambassadors became dependent on junior officers for technical work.
The National Patriots warn that non-career envoys MUST be supported by strong career chanceries, or Nigeria will suffer from inconsistency, weak follow-through and bureaucratic gaps.
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDENCY AND SENATE
● Approve Kayode Are (U.S.) — high security value, respected figure, but support with top-tier career diplomats.
● Approve Amin Dalhatu (UK or France) — clean, capable, experienced career diplomat.
● Re-evaluate Ayodele Oke — the Ikoyi case makes this nomination a reputational liability.
● Strengthen all three missions with powerful economic, political and multilateral sections led by senior career officers.
● Prioritise Nigeria’s long-term diplomatic credibility over political accommodation.
Conclusion
This ambassadorial round offers Tinubu a chance to reset Nigeria’s foreign-policy direction at a critical time. Two of the nominees are assets. One is a risk.
What matters now is simple:
Nigeria must send its best, cleanest and most strategically aligned representatives to the world’s most important capitals.
Anything less undermines the national interest.
Dr. Imran Khazaly.
The National Patriots Movement.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
