Senate Suspends Confirmation Of REC Officers Over Magu
The Senate, Tuesday, stepped down the confirmation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners over what it described as President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sack the rejected Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
President Buhari had last week nominated 27 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC.
The Senate, had also twice rejected to confirm Mr. Magu as the substantive boss of the anti-graft agency following reports from the Department of States Services, DSS, that Mr. Magu failed integrity test and as such, is unfit to head the EFCC.
Although much speculations had sprung up after Magu’s rejection for the second time that President Buhari ought to substitute Mr. Magu with another nominee for the position, the President has rather not taken any action to that effect.
Recall also that the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Hamid Ali had refused to honour Senate’s invitation to explain a Customs’ planned policy on payment of import duties on old vehicles on Nigerian roads. Recall also that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal had equally refused to honour Senate’s invitation to explain his role in an alleged grass cutting fraud involving him.
But in a form of protest, the Senate, during Tuesday’s plenary, stepped down the confirmation of the REC officers, saying some members of the executive arm of the government want to bring it’s hallowed chambers to ridicule.
“If the Senate is ridiculed our institution has been ridiculed. We will try as much as possible to promote this institution,” said Senator Anyanwu.
“Lets hear from Buhari on Magu’s case, Magu is terrorising us, because we disqualified him,” said Senator Francis Alimikhena.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to convey the feelings of the Senators to Mr. President added that, “there’s a time frame to stand down the confirmation.”
Senator Saraki however put the question and the Confirmation of INEC REC officers was stood down for two weeks.
