A new explanation has been offered as to why the Senate cannot be said to have rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Chairman of the senate committee on the Judiciary Senator David Umaru offered this explanation in Minna, Niger State on Monday.
While some senators would want Nigerians to believe that the confirmation had been rejected by the upper chamber of the National Assembly, others are crying foul.
Senator Umaru who said the issue of Magu’s confirmation has not been discussed at plenary, disclosed in Minna on Monday that “Magu’s matter was never voted on in plenary, so as far as I am concerned Magu’s nomination was never rejected.
“If somebody say it was rejected it was probably mistake, me, I have not voted, the senate operates by rules the rule is that this thing must be presented to us either by the committee or through direct interaction with the members in plenary non of this has happened”.
“The issue of Magu was discussed only in the executive session of the senate ,it was not an issue discussed at plenary so anything done in the executive session is not the same thing as that done in plenary, so as far as I am concerned the issue of Magu, the consideration of his nomination was never considered by the senate”.
Senator David Umaru who represents Niger East senatorial district in the senate disclosed that the matter has been referred to the presidency to “do due diligence” because of the conflicting reports from the Directorate of State Security (DSS) on the matter.
“Now that there is this development from the DSS the matter was referred back to the presidency so that they can clarify the matter after which the senate will now consider it”.
On the Secretary to the Federal Government issue the federal lawmaker said due process was followed to arrive at the decision taken.
“The SGF case, it was a work done by the committee and was presented. It was the decision of the majority based on the resolution passed”.
Senator David Umaru described as untrue the claim that the senate was working against the President.
