By Paul Efiong. Renowned lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has faulted the rejection of Mr Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Senate
According to him some of the Senators who have cases before the EFCC or Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, were not competent to sit at plenary to screen Mr Magu.
Mr Falana was apparently referring to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senators Danjuma Goje, Godswil Akpabio, Joshua Dariye and a couple of others who have corruption cases either with the EFCC or CCT.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Falana, noted that the participation of these Senators including the Senate President in the screening has rendered the exercise not tenable as there would be conflict of interest.
“The rejection of the nomination of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) this afternoon (Wednesday) by the senate on the basis of a security report compiled by the State Security Service is the height of official ridicule of the office of the president.
“It is high time the State Security Service was restrained by President Buhari from sabotaging the fight against corruption by the federal government.
“With respect to the senate the confirmation hearing hurriedly conducted today is illegal in every material particular. The participation of many senators who are either under investigation or being prosecuted by the EFCC has vitiated the entire proceedings of the senate on ground of conflict of interest.
“It is also a contravention of the rules of the senate which stipulates that matters which are subjudice shall not be discussed by the senate.”
Prompt News reports that the Senate on Wednesday declined to confirm Mr. Magu for the second time, citing security reason.
