Senate Says ‘No’ To Magu As EFCC Chairman

By Andah John with agency report

The Senate has rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Magu’s rejection comes six months after his name was sent for confirmation.

And it was based on ”security report”, according to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Abdullahi Sabi.

Abdullahi made this known at a press briefing after a closed-door session on Thursday.

He said the rejection would be communicated to President Muhammadu Buhari for further action.

“The Senate wishes to inform the general public that based on security reports available to the senate, it  cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the Executive Chairman of EFCC.

“Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination and has returned the said nomination to Mr President for further action,’’ he said.

Sen. Abdullahi  declined information on the screening of other members of the commission sent for confirmation. None of them was confirmed at plenary.

The Senate at the resumption of  plenary on Thursday went into a two hour executive session with Magu but the meeting ended in a deadlock.

The Presidency had in July this year written the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of Magu as Substantive Chairman of EFCC.

Buhari appointed Magu as acting chairman of the commission after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on 9 November, 2015.

Before his appointment as the acting EFCC chairman, Magu was the Head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission.