From all indications, it appears the Nigerian Senate has abandoned the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Punch is reporting.
The confirmation of Magu seems to have caused a division among members of the senate as they do not agree on why the confirmation has not proceeded after Magu’s name was
resubmitted by the presidency .
He was initially turned down following a report by the Department of State Security indicting him for corruption.
No action has been taken on the confirmation of Magu after the letter resubmitting his name for confirmation was read by Senate president Bukola Saraki on January 25, 2017.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North), told the Punch that the delay should be blamed on the Committee on Rules and Business.
“It is the floor functionaries with the Rules and Business Committee that will determine a date for scheduling it (Magu’s confirmation) on our Order Paper.”
“We have never discussed it. Never ever have we discussed it. Most of our people (in PDP caucus) are disposed to clearing him,” said Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abiodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South),.
The Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (APC, Osun Central), when asked why the confirmation had been delayed, declined to speak on it.
“Honestly, I cannot comment on that,” he said, stressing that he was out of Abuja on an official assignment.
But Senator Danjuma La’ah (PDP, Kaduna South), who denied knowledge of the letter from Buhari, urging the Senate to still confirm Magu, stated that the Senate had made its point on the acting EFCC chairman.
