The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has said the Presidency and the Senate must take responsibility for the mishandling of Ibrahim Magu’s nomination as substantive head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The group in a statement on Thursday by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, described as invalid and unsatisfactory Wednesday’s proceedings in the Senate that led to Magu’s rejection for the second time.
The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate the required political will to fight corruption by resolving the contradictions in Magu’s nomination and renominating him for the position.
“We also urge the Senate to carry out its duty to confirm Magu in line with constitutional and international requirements and without any political or ulterior considerations whatsoever,” the statement read in part.
SERAP said the rejection of Magu by the Senate on the basis of the two conflicting security reports on him, is a slap on Nigerians, the victims of corruption.
“The Senate must come clean and explain to Nigerians why it failed to invite the DSS to clarify its two reports or invite someone from the presidency to explain why Magu was re-nominated, and in fact to justify why it sent two reports in the first place,” it insisted.
“Rather than working together to promote and enhance the independence, integrity and effectiveness of the EFCC, both the presidency and the Senate would seem to have failed to pursue this legitimate governmental purpose and international requirement, and implicitly, constitutional measure.
SERAP believes that the constitutional processes of nomination and confirmation are manifestly designed to enhance the independence, ability and capacity of the EFCC and other anti-corruption bodies to prevent, combat and investigate corruption. But the messy and apparently orchestrated nomination and confirmation processes have now made the EFCC vulnerable to an undue measure of political influence and interference, and would in the long run prevent the anti-corruption body from exercising its functions properly and effectively,” the statement read in part.
