Why has the Senate refused to confirm Magu?

Five months ago, precisely on 17th June, 2016, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, signed a letter on behalf of the Nigerian Presidency requesting the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Since then nothing has been heard about this important request as the Senate has kept it […]

Five months ago, precisely on 17th June, 2016, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, signed a letter on behalf of the Nigerian Presidency requesting the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Since then nothing has been heard about this important request as the Senate has kept it in abeyance. Not a few Nigerians are miffed by the delay, nay the Nigerian Senate’s downright denial of confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the EFCC.
It took almost a month for Senate President Bukola Saraki to read Professor Osinbajo’s letter requesting Magu’s confirmation. Even after he reluctantly did so on 14th July, 2016, he kept the letter to himself, refusing to hand it over to the Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes Committee for further legislative action.
There have been allegations that some powerful elements in and around the Presidency are chagrined by the exploits of the acting chairman of the EFCC and fear that if he is confirmed, they stand to lose some grounds. The story making the round is that this group has promised Senate President Bukola Saraki that they will ensure his discharge and acquittal from his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal if he frustrates Magu’s confirmation. Recall that the Senate President is facing a 13-count charge at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged corruption and false declaration of assets while his wife, Toyin, is being questioned on suspicion of same and apparently Saraki has no desire to facilitate the confirmation of Magu in the misguided belief that doing so will deny the EFCC boss the full authority to conduct his job.
It will also be recalled that over the years, Magu, a pioneer member of staff of EFCC, had investigated some ex-governors, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is a former governor of Kwara state. After he failed to avail Nigerians of the Senate’s 2015 budget as he promised and now stalling Magu’s confirmation, the people now understand that Saraki is not only paying lip service to the anti-corruption war, he is actually against it.
It is time for Nigerians from all walks of life to prevail on their representatives at the Senate to do their job. Even the most cursory look at Magu’s credentials reveals that he is absolutely qualified for the leadership of the EFCC, in fact he carries out his duty diligently and passionately with brilliant results to show for it; if the Senate has any problem confirming him they should communicate it instead of just keeping quiet.
Lately, there is every indication that rather than fulfilling their duty in accordance with their oaths of office, these Senators are all out to stymie President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. They choose to legislate on what serves their personal interests, or how else can one justify their haste in amending the powers of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and transferring its supervision from the Presidency to the Legislature? With all the damaging revelations of multiple deposit of Kwara state government money, running into millions of Naira, allegedly into Bukola Saraki’s personal bank account in Guarantee Trust Bank, in one single day, strong suspicion has arisen that rather than serving the public, our public officials have been busy stealing from the treasury.
The President didn’t ask for Magu’s later to just be read on the floor of the Senate and then hidden by people with vested interests. The President actually requested for his confirmation. If Senate President Bukola Saraki is truly committed to the fight against corruption, as he has mouthed before, he should without further delay, show leadership in the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC chairman as requested by President Buhari.
The deferral of Ibrahim Magu’s confirmation has nothing to do with his leadership style at the commission. Magu needs to remain wary of some of his colleagues because some may have already been compromised. As a pioneer member of staff, he is fully aware of the hazards of the job. Magu is very much in order if his investigative instincts lead him to withhold his trust from some of the colleagues he cannot transfer or discharge; his is an appointment based on integrity. Once he allows his integrity to be impeached by those inside or outside the commission, then he is finished. While performing the delicate and dangerous job of fighting corruption, Magu needs to constantly look over his shoulders as dishonest Nigerians and their foreign collaborators will do anything to smear him and abort his assignment.
There is no doubt about it, Ibrahim Magu is doing an excellent job at the EFCC, he has got dozens of convictions and helped the state recover stupendous amount of stolen money and assets. Magu has also brought credibility to the fight against corruption. In the circumstances, President Buhari couldn’t have made a better choice for the leadership of the commission. The civic society and the media have a duty to interrogate the Senate on their total lack of interest in confirming Magu in his job.
The Senate is increasingly abdicating its responsibility. In addition to that of Magu and other members of the governing board of the EFCC, the confirmation hearings of commissioners for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Population Commission (NPC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, etc. have all been held up.
We don’t know why the Senate has refused to confirm the nominees, neither has its leadership issued any statement to explain this refusal. Nobody should use the Senate chambers to impede the progress of work done by this government. Magu and other Buhari nominees should be given a confirmation hearing without further ado.