Ibrahim Magu

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed that the Nigerian Senate had absolute powers to confirm or reject the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Sabi-Abdullahi announced that a Federal High Court had ruled that the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly had the powers to either confirm or reject the nomination of Magu as the substantive head of the nation’s anti-graft agency.

He said: “We are pleased with this judgment and we want to salute Nigeria’s judiciary for always rising up to the occasion to protect our democracy and democratic processes.”

The Senate had rejected Magu’s appointment based on a report it received from the Department of State Services (DSS) which disqualified him, following which they placed an embargo on the confirmation of other appointment made by President Muhammadu Buhari which required legislature approval.

The embargo was in protest of the Presidency’s position that some appointments did not require Senate’s approval. They insist that the embargo would remain until Magu was replaced.