Germany has rejected the ambassadorial posting of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, over concerns linked to his past public statements and conduct.
President Bola Tinubu had on March 6 approved Mr Fani-Kayode’s posting to a Central European country as an ambassador-designate, as part of a broader diplomatic nomination process. However, the German government declined the nomination on March 13, 2026, citing concerns over his record.
According to the German authorities, the rejection was based on Mr Fani-Kayode’s “erratic behaviour, controversial past statements, particularly his divisive ethnocentric, tribalistic, and religious fundamentalist comments in Nigeria,” which it described as “destabilising.”
The development came days after Mr Fani-Kayode publicly insulted the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, during an argument at a Ramadan dinner hosted by Senator Bashir Lado, the President’s Special Adviser on Senate Matters, at his Abuja residence.
Efforts to reach the former minister for comments on the development were unsuccessful as of Sunday.
A senior administration official indicated that Mr Fani-Kayode may be redeployed to South Africa as an ambassador, suggesting a possible reassignment following the rejection.
Mr Fani-Kayode, a prominent political figure, has in the past drawn public attention for controversial statements and confrontational exchanges. In August 2020, he verbally confronted a journalist during a press conference in Calabar, Cross River State, after being asked about the funding of his nationwide tour.
During the exchange, the journalist had asked, “Who is bankrolling you?” to which Mr Fani-Kayode responded by calling the reporter “stupid” and describing the question as “insulting.” He later issued an apology following widespread public backlash.
He has also faced public scrutiny over a child custody dispute with his estranged wife, Precious Chikwendu, which further attracted media attention.
In addition, the former minister had been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with allegations including fraud, money laundering, and forgery spanning an 18-year period. However, between 2024 and 2025, the courts dismissed the cases, which involved claims of fraudulent receipt of N4.9 billion, laundering of N200 million and later N8 billion, as well as forgery of medical reports, on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish a link between Mr Fani-Kayode and the alleged offences.
