FG dares Senate: Magu stays

 Why we rejected him – Lawmakers

By Taiye Odewale
Abuja

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that based on security reports available to the Senate, the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as the Executive Chairman of EFCC.
With the above resolution, the much expected screening and subsequent confirmation of Magu, the acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which came up yesterday, was pronounced rejected by the Senate.

But if the tune from the Presidency is anything to go by, then the exercise might be a futility after all, as the federal government has vowed to resist the Senate’s decision and allow Magu carry on in that capacity. The rejection came, about six months of tactical delay after President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded same to the upper Chamber.
This was even as the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) came close to exchanging punches over the matter.
Buhari had, in July this year, forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, Magu’s appointment via a letter read on the floor of the Senate, but remained at that level till last week when the Senate informed Nigerians that Magu and other nominees into the board of the commission would be screened yesterday.
But while nominations of other nominees like Nda Sule Moses, Lawan Mamman, Galandanci Imam and Adeleke Rafiu were referred to Committee on Anti-Corruption for consideration that of Magu was rejected.
In a press statement read at the end of the two and half hours close-door session on the issue, Senate’s spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the rejection of Magu was based on security report.
The statement read: “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that based on security reports available to the Senate, the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as the Executive Chairman of EFCC.

“Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination and has returned the said nomination to Mr. President for further act.”
Following this position, Senate President Bukola Saraki put questions to senators on what transpired at the close-door session, with the majority upholding the decision via a loud aye. Ndume and Melaye had, before the Senate’s official position over the confirmation, engaged each other in heated arguments for and against Magu’s confirmation at the office of the Senate President.
While Ndume is in support of Magu’s confirmation, Melaye vehemently opposed it.
The altercation between the two senators laced with uncomplimentary utterances against each other, later spilled over to the entrance of the Senate chamber to the amazement of onlookers.

But the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, insisting that Magu’s appointment will be renewed with or without confirmation.
In a wide-ranging interview published in the current edition of The Interview, Sagay said, “whether they like it or not, he (Magu) will be there. His chairmanship will keep on being renewed.
“Since Nuhu Ribadu left, we have not had a man with such sterling qualities as Ibrahim Magu and whether they like it or not, Magu will be there until he completes his term under the law.”
The EFCC chairman has four-year tenure. From the EFCC Act, non-confirmation does not impair his duties.
A statement by the MD/Editor-In-Chief, Azu Ishiekwene, described the edition as “arguably the best kept secret in the anti-corruption war.”
In the interview conducted before Thursday’s confirmation hearing, Sagay said Magu’s delayed confirmation was “corruption fighting back.”

Also speaking on corruption in the judiciary, he said what retiring chief justices collect off the books is “frightening and totally unrelated to what the judiciary is entitled to.”
The National Judicial Council recently suspended seven justices, including those of the Supreme Court on allegations of corruption, with some of them currently on trial.
Investigations by The Interview, which Sagay neither confirmed nor denied, indicated that the NJC pays retiring justices up to N800million in cash and provides a house valued at N500m, off the books.
The practice started around 2010 and virtually all retired CJs have benefited from it.
“Something very serious is happening there. Those rumours have some basis,” Sagay said.
He also spoke on the acting appointment of the current Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen; the perpetual injunction from arrest or investigation granted to former Rivers state Governor, Chief Peter Odili; his relationship with Transport Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; and President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.

Also in the edition, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Kayode Oladele, said the wrong public perception of lawmakers was based on insufficient information, saying there were victims of public ignorance.
He spoke on the future of the fight against corruption and the efforts of his committee to restore Nigeria as a full member of the Financial Action Task Force.
The end-of-year edition also contained some of the inside story in the making of Daily Trust newspapers by its former Managing Director, Isiaq Ajibola, and an interview with the current African champion of table tennis, Funke Oshonaike.