The
Nigerian Senate has rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of
anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The lawmakers said they
could not okay President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mr. Magu based on
security report available to them.
The spokesperson for
the upper legislative chamber, Aliyu Abdullahi, revealed this Thursday
afternoon after the Senators emerged from a closed-door meeting where Mr.
Magu’s confirmation was discussed.
“The Senate wishes to
inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot
proceed with the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission.
“The nomination of
Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for
further action,” Mr. Abdullahi said.
The Senate had slated
today, Thursday, to screen Mr. Magu, who has been acting as EFCC Chairman in
the past one year.
The Presidency had
since July requested the Senate to confirm Mr. Magu.
The request was made
through a letter signed by Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo in his capacity as
acting president when Mr. Buhari travelled abroad for medical treatment.
But the
upper chamber failed to act.
The Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, read the vice-president’s letter on July 14.
But the red chamber then failed to schedule a
confirmation hearing fueling suspicions that some corrupt Senators bent on
blocking Mr. Magu from the position.
Following widespread
pressure from Nigerians, the lawmakers fixed December 8 for the session. But that
also failed to materialise. It was then rescheduled for today, Thursday.
-Premium Times
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