Court rules that Senate has power to confirm or reject EFCC boss

dimeji akinloye

February 1, 2018 6:55 PM

The Presidency had insisted it would not replace Magu despite the Senate's two-time rejection of the EFCC boss.

A Federal High Court has reportedly ruled that the Senate has the power to confirm or reject

The Presidency and the Senate have been at loggerheads over the appointment of Magu as the substantive EFCC boss.

The upper chamber had rejected Magu's nomination twice but he is still in his position in acting capacity for over a year now.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while acting as President in Buhari's absence, had said the Senate confirmation was no longer necessary, citing some sections of the constitution which he said override the EFCC Act.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, February 1, 2018, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, said the court ruling has vindicated the Senate.

Sabi-Abdullahi made a copy of the ruling available to journalists.

"We are pleased with this judgment and we want to salute Nigeria's judiciary for always rising up to the occasion to protect our democracy and deepen our democratic processes," he said.

Why Magu's rejection

The Senate had rejected Magu's appointment based on a report by the Department of State Services which disqualified him.

ALSO READ: Buhari reportedly insists on Magu as EFCC boss

In protest of the Presidency's statement that not all appointment requires Senate approval, the legislators had also insisted that it will not confirm any appointment made by Buhari.

According to Sabi-Abdullahi, the embargo remains until Magu is replaced.

dimeji akinloye