Citing marginalization, Senate suspends confirmation of 4 EFCC members

The Senate, on Tuesday, suspended the confirmation of the four nominees as Members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The senate cited marginalization as the reason for suspending the confirmation of the nominees.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu State) had submitted the report of the Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes on the confirmation of the nominees as Members of the commission.

The four nominees presented for confirmation were: Ndasule Moses, Lawan Mamman, Galadanci Imam Najib, and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu.

After the presentation of the report, Senator Victor Umeh called the attention of the legislators to the exclusion of the South-South and South-East from the list as he said, “It is important that we include all regions in governing roles and in the fight against corruption as it involves us all. All geo-political zones should be included in this Commission.

He also noted, “One nominee is from the South-West, the acting Chairman of this Commission is from the North making a total of 4 people from the North.

“We have 6 members in this Committee. Let all 6 of them focus on one geo-political zone each and come up with a more balanced report,”he argued.

Senator Matthew Urhoghide who shared same thoughts with Senator Umeh suggested that the matter be stood down.

He said, “The distribution here is wrong. Let us delegate people to look at the distribution of these appointments. I suggest that this matter be stood down while it is looked into.”

Meanwhile, the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s advisers should show concern in the matter as it concerns the Nigerian populace.

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He also expressed his constraint in confirming the four nominees.

“Honestly, if you look at the law of the Commission in Section 2, I think we should be looking into how to amend such laws because it just says: ‘4 Eminent Nigerians with cognate experience in Finance, Banking and Accounting.”

“But at the same time, we all know that there should be equity in this kind of thing. What we should do is to look into how on our own part, we can amend this kind of law.”

”With all sense of responsibility, those that advise the President should show concern and show that they are conversant with the feelings of Nigerians.”

“I am constrained to let us move ahead with this. We will take the vote. Let us show sensitivity on this issue.”

By Babatunde Alao….

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