Nigerians Lament over Osinbajo, Magu and Senate Face-off.

A cross section of Nigerians has continued to comment on the face-off between the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the senate over the confirmation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

Our correspondent, Edna Michael Amadi went to town to sample people’s opinion on this matter.     

According to her, an Owerri base constitutional lawyer, Barrister Louis Alozie said that in line with the EFCC law, the approval of the Senate was required before the appointment of anyone as Chairman of the commission.

He lamented that if the power of the senate to verify or screen appointees of public service had not been supportedby the constitution, then Nigeria would be in autocracy, adding that where there is an ambiguity in the law, the intention of the law makers should be verified.

A Commissioner in the State Judicial Service Commission, Barrister Nelson Ezerioha said that the Senate has the right to confirm appointments of persons presented to it by the Executive, noting that the EFCC is one of them.

Barrister Ezerioha said that if the Senate does not want to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the EFCC, it should furnish Nigerians with reasons for his rejection.

On the statement made by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, he said it was a personal statement that has nothing to do with the Senate’s duties.

He maintained that section 171 of the constitution says the President can appoint as many aides as he wants revealing that Mr. Magu is not one of such cabinet aides.

The Head of Department of Political Science, Imo State University, Owerri Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha said what was between the Senate and the Executive was a healthy rivalry as such makes for checks and balances.

He said under normal circumstances the confirmation in the Senate is done for the checks and balances which are inherent in the Presidential system of government saying that he cannot believe the statement credited to the Acting President that the Senate does not have the right to confirm persons presented to it by the Presidency.

On ways to resolve the face-off, the Professor says the checks and balances should takes its normal place for harmonious running of the government as well do away with unworthy distractions.

It would be recalled that in December last year, the Senate refused to confirm President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee, Mr. Ibrahim Magu for the post of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Three months later he was rejected the second time by the Senate which based its decision on the Department of State Service, DSS report on him and his poor performance at the screening.