FG releases national honours list, Fayemi, Saraki missing

The federal government has finally released the final list of persons nominated to receive national honours amidst controversy over an earlier leaked list.

Last weekend, in a leaked list a total of 437 persons were nominated by the federal government to receive national honours. The leaked list was inundated with inconsistencies, errors, and the absence of notable names.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki was missing from the list while Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, was nominated to be awarded commander of the order of the Niger (CON) — an honour he was bestowed by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

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Also, Bayo Ogunlesi, founder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), was erroneously described as the owner of Gatwick Airport.

Tijani Muhammad-Bande, former president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), is listed among the persons to be honoured with GCON.

The name of the former diplomat was missing from the previous list. On the final list, Fayemi was excluded while Saraki was still not included.

The awards will be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 11, at an event scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.