Lobby, political solution‘d have confirmed Magu, says Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday threw light on the controversial refusal of the Senate to confirm the appointment of Mr. Ibrahm Magu as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Saraki said the appointment of Magu as EFCC Chairman may have been confirmed but for the failure of the Presidency to explore the established channel of lobby.

He also said that “political solution” should have been applied after the Senate rejected the nomination of Magu twice if only the Presidency toed the path.

The Senate President spoke at the orientation programme for Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect of the 9th National Assembly held in Abuja.

Saraki attempted to parry questions on why the National Assembly did not go to court for a definite pronouncement on the failed confirmation of Magu’s appointment as substantive EFCC Chairman.

He was forced to respond when the question refused to go away.

Saraki said that it is left to the Executive arm of government to find a replacement of a ministerial nominee if rejected by the Senate.

Talking specifically on Magu nomination, he said that there was no doubt that the Senate has the power to confirm or reject his nomination.

On why the Senate did not go to court for pronouncement on whether the Senate has the power to confirm the EFCC chairman, he said that there were over 12 cases pending in court on the issue.

Saraki, who said that some of the cases had been pending in court for over two years, added he cannot explain why the cases have not been decided.

He noted however that “in cases like the EFCC chairman, there is always the need for political solution and dialogue to solve the issue.

“But to say whether the Senate has the power to confirm, the Senate has power to confirm. The power of confirmation is there even in America which we copy.

“When the Executive makes appointment, there is issue of lobby. This is why we want a particular nominee. It is done even in America.”

On the election of presiding officers of the 9th National Assembly, Saraki advised senators-elect and members-elect that they should ensure that there were in the chamber on the day of inauguration.

READ ALSO: National Assembly after Saraki and Tambuwal

He insisted that inauguration and election of presiding officers only take place on the floor of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, who flagged off the orientation, spoke on the overview of the National Assembly including structure, functions and inter-parliamentary relations.

In the course of his presentation, Sani-Omolori mentioned that one of the functions of the Senate is the confirmation of nominees from the Executive arm of government.

The power of confirmation of nominees prompted questions on the confirmation of Magu and why he is still serving as Acting Chairman of EFCC when he was denied confirmation.

Sani-Omolori said that he was not in a position to answer political questions and referred the question on Magu to Saraki.

Saraki noted that the options are the President can lobby the legislature or present someone else at the event of rejection of a nominee.

Saraki said: “The point I am making is that we should not make too much news on the process of electing a presiding officers. What is important is for the members of the Senate to decide who is the best to lead them so that they can have stability.”

On non- confirmation of Magu, Saraki said: “The truth really is that the issue of confirmation whether ministerial or other appointments, is done by the entire Senate.

“Generally, we have an unwritten practice that we would get the input of senators from the state where the appointee hails from before we start the screening process in the Senate.

“By the powers of the Senate if such a nominee is rejected, then it is upon the executive to find a new replacement.

“The issue really is that the Senate has the powers to reject a ministerial nominee.

“In a situation where the Senate rejects, it is up to the executive at that time to send in a replacement or in some cases, when we have appointment rejected and the executive will re-present before the Senate but if the senators again, took a decision to reject the nominee, the appointment stands rejected.”