Senate asks Buhari to sack Magu after court ruling
The Senate yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu to end the lingering confirmation impasse.
An Abuja Federal High Court, presided by Justice John R. Tsoho, said the Senate can reject the appointment of the EFCC chairman.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger), while briefing newsmen over the judgement, said President Buhari has been offered an opportunity to end the non confirmation of his nominees, numbering about 40.
“It is our hope and prayer that our amiable President will definitely submit another nominee to carry on with the work.
“By this judgement we hope the Executive would be guided and do the needful so that we can move forward. For those who have been worried that Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has not met, this is a window to make them meet,” he said.
The plaintiff in the matter, Oluwatosin Ojaomo in his originating summons urged the court to hold that the role of the Senate under Section 2 (1) (a) (ii) (iii) of the EFCC Act is to ensure that the nomination conforms with the law, adding that once the requirement for the nominee has been met by the President, the Senate was statute barred from rejecting presidential appointee.
But Justice Tsoho while striking out the case for lack of locus, said “The submission of the plaintiff however gives the impression that the Senate only exists to rubberstamp the President’s appointment of a Chairman. Such view point runs counter to the proper intendment of Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act and is misconceived.”
Sabi who said the judgement of the Court has vindicated the Senate, assured the President of the Upper Chamber’s support to the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.
He said the judgement clearly declared that the Senate has the power to confirm or reject any nominee forwarded to it by the President. The Senate spokesperson said by the intendment of the law, the Senate was not meant a rubber stamp of the executive.