Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that the rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was not based a report by the Department of State Service (DSS).
The DSS report, which was submitted to the Senate before Magu first appeared before the red chamber for screening, questioned his (Magu) integrity and declared him unfit for the job.
It was based on this report the Senate said it initially rejected Magu’s nomination.
But Saraki said the acting EFCC boss was not confirmed – for the second time – just because he did not pass the screening, adding that the rejection is being politicised.
The Senate President stated this in an interview with TVC News in Morocco where he attended an African summit on climate change and food security.
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.”
Last week, a former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, had condemned his colleagues for rejecting Magu based on unproven allegations.
Ndume said the lawmakers are hypocrites for allowing Saraki to continue in office because he was in court to defend corruption allegations.
