Germany has reportedly rejected Femi Fani-Kayode’s ambassadorial nomination over controversial statements.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the government of Germany has reportedly rejected the proposed ambassadorial posting of former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, citing concerns over his past controversial statements and public conduct.
According to reports, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the nomination of Fani-Kayode on March 6 as part of a list of ambassadorial appointments to various countries. However, the German authorities reportedly declined to accept the nomination on March 13, 2026.
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Sources familiar with the matter said the German government expressed reservations about the nominee’s previous public remarks, which it described as divisive and potentially destabilising. The concerns were said to relate to comments perceived as ethnocentric, tribalistic, and religiously charged within Nigeria’s political discourse.
The development reportedly followed a recent disagreement involving Fani-Kayode and the Richard Montgomery, the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, during a Ramadan dinner hosted in Abuja by Bashir Lado, Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters.
As of the time of filing this report, Fani-Kayode had not issued an official response to the reported rejection. However, sources within the administration suggested that he could be considered for redeployment to South Africa for a diplomatic posting.
Fani-Kayode, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, has frequently attracted public attention for his outspoken commentary and controversial social media posts. In 2020, he sparked widespread criticism after verbally confronting a journalist during a press conference in Calabar, Cross River State, over a question about funding for his political tours. He later issued an apology following public backlash.
The former minister has also faced legal scrutiny in the past after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with multiple counts including fraud, money laundering, and forgery. However, between 2024 and 2025, the courts dismissed the cases after ruling that prosecutors failed to sufficiently link him to the alleged offences.
The reported diplomatic setback has since sparked conversations about Nigeria’s ambassadorial nomination process and the scrutiny candidates may face from host countries.
