'No plot to impeach Acting President', Senator says

dimeji akinloye

July 6, 2017 9:16 AM

The Senator stressed that any ploy, if there is anything like that, to impeach Osinbajo would fail woefully.

Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Bukola Saraki

A lawmaker representing Osun Central at the Senate,

The report went viral on Tuesday, July 4, that the Senate is making a move to start an impeachment process with the aim of installing the Senate President, Bukola Saraki as the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It was also reported that the Senate is deliberately working to cause a conflict between Osinbajo and Saraki to actualise the plan.

The Red Chamber had on Tuesday suspended the consideration of all executive requests for confirmation of nominees, over Osinbajo's statement which seemingly undermined the Senate power of confirmation.

Osinbajo had in April said the name of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu should not have been sent to the Senate for confirmation in the first place, arguing that it does not require the chamber's authorization.

Osinbajo's reaction followed the rejection of Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC by the Senate.

The Senate tackled the Acting President over the statement when he (Osinbajo) sent the name of the nominee for the position of Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, to the chamber for confirmation.

The lawmakers said Osinbajo is being inconsistent - questioning his action since he said nominees do not require Senate confirmation.

The Senator consequently resolved that before considerations of nominees resume, Osinbajo must withdraw his statements regarding Magu, and sack him.

ALSO READ: How Senate 'tried to impeach Osinbajo'

Adeyeye, however, said the situation is being misconstrued.

"Sadly, rumours are being peddled that senators are being steered in a ploy to heighten a Saraki-Osinbajo conflict to a point where the acting president can be impeached so that Saraki can take over as acting president. I am not aware of such a ploy within the senate," he wrote in an article on Wednesday, July 5.

"More importantly, I dare say that were such a ploy to exist, it would woefully and precipitously fail. What matters therefore is that Osinbajo must not be misled into siding with those talking as if their own views are the views of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

"Pundits bellowing as if the ongoing saga is purely a legal matter are wrong! Even if they are right, legal matters are not finalised by the opinions of the loudest lawyers; they are concluded by the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction! Celebrated lawyers do not constitute a court! In any case, the issues at stake are as much matters of politics as they are of law. The earlier the frontline dramatis personae grasp and internalise this, the better,"Adeyeye, who is the Majority Whip of the Senate, added.

He noted that as a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo, he (Adeyeye) voted in favour of Magu at the screening exercise.

But according to him, since Magu was rejected by the Senate, he cannot continue to function as EFCC boss.

dimeji akinloye