On Wednesday 15th March, 2017, the Senate rejected for the second time the nomination of Ibrahim Magu for confirmation as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). This position has gone against the wish of the majority of Nigerians including this writer.
Distinguished Senator, you may wish to know that, when I casted my vote for you In 2015 it was for two reasons – one, as my Representative between 2007 and 2011, you gave me a very good representation at the green chamber and that convinced my conscience to go for you for the second time; and secondly, since I opted for Muhammadu Buhari for president, I felt obliged to elect for him, the right type of people who will work with him collaboratively in surmounting the multiple challenges facing the country especially CORRUPTION. This I knew Muhammadu Buhari would not take lightly.
In his attempt to fight corruption vehemently, president Muhammadu Buhari found Ibrahim Magu a very good material to rely on as the head of the most vibrant anti-graft agency in the country and sent him to the Senate for confirmation but to our utmost surprise, the Senate turned down. Personally, I was disappointed by this development which portrays a clear act of betrayal of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. Perhaps this might be in revenge to Magu’s investigation of some members of the Senate that have corruption charges hanging on their necks of which the Senate President himself is not spared.
Why this letter?
My dear Senator, I have decided to write this letter in order to demand for explanation from you in particular and the Senate in general. I hope that, the portion of the letter that has direct link with you as my representative will be responded by you either by replying me or through media; while the other part that demands the response of the Senate President himself and or other members of the Senate be read at the plenary.
As my representative in the Senate, I would like to know your position as regards the confirmation of Magu. Are you in support of his rejection or not? If you supported his rejection, on what basis did you oppose his nomination? If you opposed his rejection, what effort had you demonstrated at the plenary to show your disapproval of the decision taken by the Senate?
Now to the Senate President and other Senators
The Senators need to be reminded that, they are just 0.00006 per cent of the total population of the country and therefore, in taking decisions that affects the lives of the remaining 99.99994 per cent, their interest is immaterial. Magu’s rejection no doubt has gone against the popular wish; and that singular action has undermined the integrity of the house in fighting corruption.
The Senate may also need to recall that the sitting Senate President has more allegations of corrupt practices than Magu. At the time of writing this letter, he is answering cases on alleged corrupt cases in a Nigerian court of law. What majority of Nigerians wonder is why the Senate President is still leading the senate if an indicted personality cannot head public institution. Morality is something you cannot teach if you do not have it!
On the screening date, Senator Dino Melaye was reported to have shown a letter from the DSS that was sent to the house on Tuesday, 14th March, 2017 where some question marks on Magu’s integrity were raised. There are three issues that need to be clarified with regards to that letter:
One- to who was the letter addressed? This is because an important letter like that one should not have come from an ordinary floor member. And why Dino Melaye? Why not any of the principal officers of the Senate? Was that the normal channel through which a letter from the Executive is presented to the plenary?
Two – In an interview granted to the Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu told the BBC Correspondent that he spoke with the Director (DSS) and he told him that he was not aware of any letter sent to the House. So, how did Senator Dino Malaye got the letter? And what is the motive behind resending the letter to the Senate without the Director’s knowledge? These issues sound suspicious, and the Senate must clear them before taking decision against Ibrahim Magu.
Three – in his response to the allegations raised in the letter sent by the DSS to the Senate in December last year, Magu stated that, the reports sent to the Presidency was in favour of his nomination but that sent to the Senate was to the contrary. As a proponent of ‘integrity’ what has the senate done to obtain the true colour of the DSS conflicting reports?
Lastly, some reports have it that Magu’s rejection was because he was not able to state how much EFCC has recovered from the looters. Had the Senate weigh the sensitivity of revealing such kind of information at that time? Let us assume that Magu doesnot know, is that enough reason to disqualify him upon all the achievements he has recorded in his selfless service to the nation? What will the senate lose by simply telling Magu that he should be keeping track of the recovered looted funds?
Please accept the assurances of my highest esteemed regards.
Thank you.
abbanihsan@yahoo.com
 - By AbdurRahman Abdullahi Dutsin-ma ){kind=link}
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