Senate: Why We Rejected Magu, Other Appointees- Saraki |The Source

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Senator Bukola Saraki has revealed why the Senate under his leadership did not confirm suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ibrahim Magu and other appointees of the Buhari’s administration.

The refusal by the Saraki-led Senate to confirm Magu as substantive boss of the anti-graft commission marked the watershed in the sour relationship between the Legislature and the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

But Saraki said he did not regret his action on Magu who was later removed from office by President Buhari over corruption related issues and insubordination to Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

Also recall that the 8^th Senate summoned the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, IGP to make presentations to the Senate on the worsening security situation in the country at the time.

The top military brass that were grilled by the Bukola Saraki-led Senate are General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt-General T.Y. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff;  Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; and Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.

Some top presidential advisers had accused the Senate of being confrontational, but the ex-Senate President said decisions were taken in the best interest of the country.

The former Kwara state governor said, the decision not to confirm some nominees of the president was due to patriotism for the country.

Saraki stated this on Wednesday, on his official twitter handle @Bukolasaraki. He said “When we didn’t confirm certain appointees, it was because we did our due diligence.When we invited the IGP & the security chiefs, it was because we wanted to find solutions to the issues of insecurity at the time.

“It was never about a personal agenda. It was always about Nigeria!” Saraki. The positions we adopted, and the interventions that we embarked on were in the interest of the nation,” the former Senate President tweeted.

Saraki was the 13th President of the Senate from 2015-2019.