Senators threaten presidency over Magu

Members of the Senate have threatened to call for the suspension of consideration and confirmation of appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari over a comment credited to Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, that executive appointments did not require legislative approval based on Section 171 of the Constitution.

Protests came from the lawmakers when a letter from Osinbajo asking the Senate to confirm the nomination of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila as Chairman of the National Lottery Commission, which was read by President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the plenary.

While strongly condemning Osinbajo for the comment, the lawmakers successively asked that an embargo should be placed on confirmation of executive appointments pending the time the powers of the legislature will been recognised.

The Senate also directed the Acting President to immediately remove the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and forward another person for confirmation. It further directed Prof. Osinbajo to immediately withdraw his statement that the Senate lacked constitutional powers to confirm Magu and other certain presidential nominations.

The apex legislative Chamber, in another breath, described as effort in futility and deliberate waste of tax payers’ money, the desperate attempt in Kogi State to recall Senator Dino Melaye.

The position of the Senate was anchored on the fact that the processes and procedures for recalling a parliamentarian are tedious and rigorous, and must be strictly adhered to, noting that the Senate has the final say constitutionally, to determine the credibility or otherwise of the process.

Members of the Senate threatened to move against the leadership of the Senate if it failed to take a drastic action against the executive in 48 hours, the lawmakers asked that invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to any member be ignored.