Senate To Osinbajo: Sack Magu Or Prepare to Contend with Us

The Senate is threatening some unspecified actions against the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo unless he sacks the head of the anti-graft agency, the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

For a start, the Senate yesterday suspended further confirmation of any nominations into public offices until the government acts on its demand.

The upper chamber twice rejected Magu’s nomination but he is still in his position in acting capacity for over a year now.

The acting President had said the Senate confirmation was no longer necessary, citing some sections of the constitution which he said override the EFCC Act.

The Senate had not reacted on that statement until yesterday when it reconvened from Eif Fitr break.

The resolutions adopted are: “That the Senate suspends all issues relating to confirmation of nominees from the executive until all issues of confirmation as contained in the constitution and laws of the Federation are adhered to.

“The Acting President must respect the constitution and laws as it relates to confirmation of appointments.

“The Acting President should immediately respect rejection of nominees by the Senate.

“The Acting President should withdraw the statement credited to him that the Senate does not have the power to confirm certain nominees.”

The resolutions were passed following the debate on a point of order raised by Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima (APC, Zamfara) on the statement made by the Acting President.

The debate was preceded by an executive session that lasted for about an hour where issues relating to the workings of the Senate including Osinbajo’s statement were discussed.

Yarima cited rule 14 of the Senate after the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki read a letter from Osinbajo, requesting for the confirmation of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila as the Director-general the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

After the letter was read, Yarima raised the point of order, saying the comment by the acting President on the confirmation of Magu should be debated before the consideration of the request.

“I recall that at one time, the acting President said the Senate lacks the power to confirm nominees. I wouldn’t know if he has changed his position on this.

“I will want the Senate to discuss the acting President’s statement. It is better we discuss this matter now before the consideration of the request,” he said.

Osinbajo in April, while speaking on Magu”s  rejection said: “It is up to the senate to make their judgement, and it is up to us to say what we want to do. If our candidate is rejected, we can re-present him.

“No law says we can’t re-present him. And again, there is the other argument, whether or not we need to present him for confirmation and that’s a compelling argument from Femi Falana.

“His argument is that under the constitution, section 171, and if you look at that section, it talks about the appointments that the president can make. They include appointments of ministers, ambassadors and heads of agencies such as the EFCC.

“In that same section 171, the constitution rightly said that certain appointments must go to the senate such as ministerial and ambassadorial appointments.

“Those of heads of agencies like the EFCC do not have to go to the senate. That’s what the constitution says. But the EFCC act, which of course as you know is inferior, says that EFCC chairman should go to the senate for confirmation, “he said.

Supporting Yarima’s request, Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers State) said: “If you reject one law, you are rejecting the Constitution because the laws that establish agencies are appendages of the Constitution.

“I don’t want to talk about gross misconduct but the moment you are playing with the Constitution and laws, it means you are playing down on Nigerians who make the laws,” he said.

Also, Senator Isah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi) accused the executive of frustrating the Senate from discharging It’s duties.

Source : Naij.