Senate President Bukola Saraki has revealed that the Department of State Security (DSS) report on the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, was not the reason the senate refused to confirm him.
The Punch reports that Saraki, in an interview with TVC News in Morocco, said people should not make assumptions on Magu’s rejection a second time by the senate.
Recall that a former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, alleged that Magu’s rejection by the senate was based on unproven allegations.
Saraki said, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has said it is preparing to communicate the rejection of Magu to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said the lawmakers would soon transmit their letter to the President.
He said, “They (Presidency) should be expecting it; it will come. People should be fair to us. That is not how things are done. When one sits for an examination, one doesn’t get the result same day. When did we do it (reject Magu)?
“There are processes. Of course, they will say they are waiting on us and we have to process it. We should always allow people to do their jobs. There will be communication and it will go.”