CONFIRMATION: Senate again dribbles EFCC boss Magu

The Senate, today, shifted the planned confirmation hearing of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

The acting chairman whose name was forwarded to the Senate five months ago by ‎President Muhammadu Buhari, was billed to appear before the Red Chamber on Thursday for the commencement of his confirmation hearing.

Though the acting chairman and his team were on ground for the exercise, it was however not captured in the day’s Order Paper.

Explaining the reason behind the postponement after the day’s plenary, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn-Na’allah, said appeals from lawmakers who are currently out of Abuja, led to the deference.

He revealed that the Senate leadership has unanimously agreed to commence the exercise next Thursday and that a formal letter has been sent to Magu and other members of the board of EFCC to be on ground.

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Na’Allah explained: “Let me correct it. In fact it was listed on the Order Paper and removed. The senate is normally guided by the time frame of the work. We agreed that today (Thursday) will be the confirmation hearing of the EFCC acting chairman, Magu, but we received a lot of calls from Senators who are away and who believe that they want to participate and that it is unfair for us to fix it when we know they are not around.

“When we look at the demands and the number, we felt it would be wrong for us to proceed. Then we said it should be next Thursday. Again we became too unsure as to whether Monday or Tuesday will be declared public holiday by the Federal Government in respect of the impending Eid- Malud holiday.

“We have since written an official letter to the acting chairman giving him that Thursday will be the day for the confirmation hearing of his appointment.”

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had on Wednesday, disclosed that Magu’s confirmation hearing will commence on Thursday. He made the disclosure at the end of plenary.

It was thought, however, that the Senate leadership may have responded to subtle threats by some of its members to forcefully raise the matter of Magu’s confirmation if it continued to tarry.

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