The President of the Nigerian Senate Bukola Saraki has denied that the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu was rejected by the upper house of legislature because of a security report issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) which questioned Magu’s integrity, Naij.com reports.
Saraki told Nigerian cable television TVC News in Morocco where he attended an African summit on climate change and food security that Magu’s rejection was for an entirely different reason.
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.”
Saraki also denied that the current face-off between the Senate and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) was evidence that the Senate was being too harsh on the executive.
He said: “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.”
Meanwhile, the alleged cause of ongoing war between the Nigerian Senate and the Customs service boss, Comptroller-General Hameed Ali has been reportedly revealed.
The ongoing battle is allegedly linked to a vendetta by the Senate after officials of the Nigeria Customs service reportedly seized a bulletproof Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) owned by Senate President Bukola Saraki.
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