A federal high court sitting in Abuja has been asked to disqualify the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, 10 other senators from being part of senators that will screen and confirm the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC).
In suit No., FHC/ABJ/CS/102/2017, filed by an activist and. Anti-corruption crusader, Raji Rasheed Oyewumi, the plaintiff accused the Senate President and other senators joined in the suit of bias, if they are allowed to screen Magu.
Joined in the suit dated February 13th, 2017 are Senators Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang, Aliyu Wammako, Stella Oduah, Theodore Orji, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ahmed Sani, Danjuma Goje, Joshua Dariye and Adammu Abdullahi.
Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Magu.
According to the plaintiff, the senators can’t be fair in their screening and confirmation of Magu, since all of them have pending cases before the EFCC.
According to the suit. Saraki and others are threatened by Magu’s emergence as EFCC chairman.
The plaintiff raised five issues for determination of the court.
He asked the court to determine whether Senate President and other senators will not violate the provisions of Section 56, 172 of paragraph 1 and 9 of the fifth schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) if they jointly or severally participate in or vote during the screening or deliberation on the nomination of Magu for the position of Chairman of the EFCC in view of their ongoing cases of financial and economic crime.
In the suit filed by Inibehe Effiong Esq., the activist is also seeking five declaration from the court.
He prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the Senate President from presiding over or participating in the screening, deliberation and voting on the nomination of Magu as EFCC chairman.
In the affidavit in support of the originating summons, the. Plaintiff said the Senate President exhibited bias against the confirmation of Magu when he failed or refused to read the Acting President’s letter on the floor of the Senate until July 14th, 2016, three weeks after.
He said further manifestation of their bias and conflict of interest in the nomination of Magu was exhibited when they failed to consider his nomination until December 15, 2016, six months after the letter was received from the Acting president.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.
