Crack in Senate over Magu’s confirmation

There seems to be a crack in the Senate over the rejection of the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While Senate Majority Leader Ali Ndume had told State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa on Monday that the Senate had not rejected Magu’s nomination, the upper chamber overruled him, insisting that Magu’s nomination was rejected due to security report.

Recall that Ndume had made a surprise appearance at the Aso Rock Presidential on Monday and declared that the Senate had not rejected the nomination of Magu for the EFCC job.

This prompted an emergency press conference on Tuesday by the Senate Spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who clearly stated that the position of the Senate was that the nomination of Magu has been rejected and that the nomination has been returned to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abdullahi stated that although Ndume is the Senate Majority Leader, he cannot speak for the Senate, adding that the two responsibilities are different.

Abdullahi said: “The call to national duty is crucial. So I am here based on series of calls and text messages from you about what you thought are conflicting messages. It has been become critical for the senate to clarify issues. The 8th senate  believes in its integrity; we uphold and promote the rule of law which is the basic thing about our democracy. We are committed to doing things differently to stabilize the polity in the collective interest of Nigerians.

“I would like to make the following clarifications: I’m holding the votes and proceeding of Thursday. We had two votes and proceeding because we had to go into joint session to receive Buhari.

“Our Votes and Proceedings are the official records of what transpired in chamber. I briefed you on Thursday  to the effect that the senate is announcing that in view of security reports we were unable to confirm Magu.

“We then rejected and returned the nomination to Buhari for further action.”

He noted that “Media reports emerging especially from interviews granted by Senator Ndume meant that we have to clarify issues. For the records, I am the official spokesman of the senate and I intend to discharge this with honour and integrity because the sanctity of the institution is crucial to the sustenance of democracy.”

According to the Senate spokesman, “I have only one point of reference, which is, the Votes and Proceedings. The senate deliberated on the nomination of Magu for the position of EFCC Chairman with regard to security report available but referred the other nominees for screening since nothing much was found about them.”

“This is the only official position of the senate. What I say, I say on behalf of the senate. Nigerians should be guided. There is no ambiguity in what we said”.

He explained that the Senate considered the only security report submitted to it and took its decision pointing out that the Senate was not aware of any other report.