This is official: the nomination of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, will scale through the confirmation process. This was part of the struck reached with the Presidency by the leadership of the Senate prompting President Buhai to re-send his name to the Senate for confirmation.
On Tuesday at plenary, the Senate President Bukola Saraki read a letter sent to the upper chamber by President Buhari re-nominating Magu as substantive Chairman of EFCC. Though the Presidency earlier denied the submission of such letter but confirmation came Tuesday when the letter was read out.
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, read the letter during plenary which was preceded by a closed-door meeting that lasted for one and a half hour.
When Plenary began, the Senate President then read the letter from the President, re-nominating Mr Magu for approval as the Chairman of the EFCC.
In the letter, which was sent to the Senate on Monday, President Buhari explained that the nominee had satisfactorily clarified the allegation, which led to the earlier rejection by the Senate.
The President also rejected the recommendation of the Senate, asking for the removal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation over allegation of corruption.
The federal lawmakers had in 2016 turned down the President’s request for the confirmation of Mr Magu who is currently the acting chairman of the anti-corruption body.
They cited security report by the Department of Security Services (DSS) which the Senate claimed indicted Mr Magu.
The decision by the Senate had been a subject of controversy as former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, had insisted that Mr Magu was not rejected by the lawmakers but his confirmation was only stepped down for further consultation with the Presidency.
Explaining the reason behind the decision, the Senate said that security report available to it showed that Mr Magu is not fit to be chairman of the body.
