Magu: Why Senate Refused Confirming Him – Saraki

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, has said the Senate did not refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, due to the indicting report by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Speaking with TVC News in Morocco where he attended an African summit on climate change and food security, Saraki said Magu did not meet the requirement and as such could not be confirmed.

According to Saraki,”You are jumping into conclusion that he (Magu) was rejected because of the accusation. I don’t think there was anywhere we said he was rejected based on accusations.

“We have nominees that come all the time with different issues. Two weeks ago, we screened the Chief Justice of Nigeria and he scaled through.

“Now the EFCC chairman came and he did not pass the screening. Someone else will come and may pass. This is our constitutional role and I don’t think we should personalise or politicise this.

The Senate President also dismissed report that the Upper Legislative Chambers was too harsh with the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Col Hameed Ali(rtd).

Saraki noted that the executive arm of government must learn to consult with the legislature more often because this is the best way to get things done.

“I know that as the parliament, which represents the people, some of these far-reaching decisions have to be made and there is a need for a wider consultation and that is what democracy is about. If you don’t want democracy, you can sit in your office and announce anything.

“Nobody is saying we have a monopoly of what is right but there must be consultation. We get feelers from the people and at a time that the economy is biting, we have to be very sensitive to some of the issues we face. So, all we are saying is consult more,” Saraki said.