From Fred Itua, Abuja
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, will, today, appear before the Senate for his confirmation hearing.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, disclosed this at yesterday’s plenary, before he headed to the Presidential Villa for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Tomorrow (today), we will have Magu, who will appear before us for screening at 11:30am,” Saraki said.
Buhari appointed Magu in November 2015, after Ibrahim Lamorde.
On December 15, 2016, senate, after an Executive Session, rejected Magu’s nomination.
Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi told newsmen Magu’s rejection was based on an October 3, 2016 ‘damning’ report from the Department of State Services (DSS).
The first letter, which urged senate to confirm Magu, was written by Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who was acting president, while Buhari was away in UK.
The second nomination letter was transmitted on January 24, 2017,.Buhari resubmitted Magu’s name as the substantive chairman of EFCC.
The president had, in the letter, noted that anti-corruption war was at the heart of his administration and insisted that Magu was fit enough to lead the way, despite the report of the DSS.
He said Magu, in his response to the allegations raised in the DSS report, adequately addressed them, therefore, he had to re-forward his name to the senate for confirmation as the substantive chairman of the EFCC.
As at the time of filing in this report, it could not be ascertained if the senate president was already in receipt of a new status report from the DSS on Magu.