Lopsided appointment: Senate refuses to confirm EFCC nominees

The Senate on Tuesday refused to confirm four persons nominated as members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following a lopsided appointment.

The nominees are: Ndasule Moses, Lawan Mamman, Galadanci Imam Najib, and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu.

The Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes had presented to the Plenary its finding on the nominees, but the legislators noted that South-East and South-South were not represented in the Commission.

At plenary on Tuesday, Senator Chukwuka Utazi presented the report of the committee concerning the confirmation of the nominees.

Senator Barnabas Gemade seconded the motion asking the Senate to consider the report.

Another senator, Victor Umeh, noted that “the nominees have very rich, vital skills and experience.”

He, however noted that only one of the nominees was from the South-West, while the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, is from the North.

“This makes a total of four people from the North; the South-East and South-South are not accommodated in this Commission,” Umeh said.

He argued that, “It is important that we include all regions in governing roles and in the fight against corruption, as it involves us all.

“All geo-political zones should be included in this Commission.

Supporting Umeh, another senator, Matthew Urhoghide, noted that the distribution was wrong.

“Let us delegate people to look at the distribution of these appointments.

“I suggest that this matter be stood down while it is looked into.”

Utazi counselled that since there were six members in the committee, all of them should be directed to focus on one geo-political zone each and come up with a more balanced report.

However, Senator Ahmad Lawan advised the lawmaker to pass the nominations as presented, but noted that all geo-political zones needed to be represented.

The Senate thereafter went into Executive Session, which lasted for 25 minutes.

At the Executive session, the Senate agreed that the confirmation of the EFCC nominees should be suspended for further legislative input.