Senate Embarks on Recess as Screening of EFCC Boss Pending

Senate on Thursday, July 21, embarked on recess without screening Mr Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the 47 ambassadorial nominees. ‎ Although it was reflected on the order paper to consider the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm the ambassadors, the lawmakers only read out the names. ‎ However, the Senate on Wednesday, July 20, resolved to begin consideration and screening of 47 ambassadorial nominees. ‎ This  followed the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs following  37 petitions alleging lopsidedness in the appointment among others.
‎ President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday, June 9, released the list of ambassadorial nominees and sent same to the Senate. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier written the Senate seeking the confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC chairman. ‎ According to the report, the letter was forwarded to the Senate through the president’s special assistant on National Assembly matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang. ‎ The president was said to have settled for Magu because of he described as the “record-breaking performance, transparency, integrity and exceptional courage” since his appointment as the acting chairman of EFCC on November 9, 2015. ‎ However, the new chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, November 11, assumed office in an acting capacity.During the handing over ceremony at the commission’s office in Abuja, Magu called on all staff of EFCC to get positioned for a greater fight against corruption in Nigeria. It was gathered that Magu screening may be stalled because some of the senators who ex-governors are still under investigation by the commission while some of them are already in court. Among them are Senator Joshua Dariye, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Godswill Akpabio and many more. ‎ The Senate are on recess till September 13.‎