The raging controversy between the Senate and the Presidency over the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is yet to abate, as the Senate has vowed never to reconsider Magu for confirmation for the plum job, after failing to scale the hurdle twice in the last three months.
A reliable competent Senate source told The Point that the upper legislative chamber had resolved to allocate zero budget to the anti-graft agency in the yet-to-be-passed 2017 Appropriation Bill, should the Presidency tried to retain Magu in acting capacity.
The Budget Office had reduced EFCC’s 2017 budget from N18.8 billion in 2016 to N17 billion, an 8.5 per cent reduction, which Magu had earlier kicked against during the agency’s budget defence at the National Assembly.
The Point further gathered that the zero allocation plot was embarked upon by the Senate, following its suspicion that President Muhammadu Buhari may resubmit Magu’s name for confirmation, or quietly let him continue in office in acting capacity.
It was further learnt that the National Assembly was not in a hurry to pass the 2017 Appropriation Bill in a hurry because of the Magu brouhaha.
The source said, “The Senate is waiting for the Presidency to take the next decision on Magu and then it will unfold its next plan to checkmate the excesses and dictatorial tendencies already evident in the present administration, especially within the Presidency.
“If Magu’s name is resubmitted for confirmation, I can tell you that it is dead on arrival. But if the President wants to play a fast one on the Senate, by tactically allowing him to remain in acting capacity indefinitely, then we as the people’s representatives will have no option than to apply our constitutional powers in order to defend the people.
“I can assure you, EFCC will receive zero allocation; and if they go ahead to fund the agency without the National Assembly approving such funds, then that will amount to obvious breach of the constitution, and I am sure you know the implication of that.”
This was just as the upper legislative chamber of the national Assembly has warned that Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign would be in serious jeopardy if the President allows Magu to remain in office as acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency after being denied confirmation twice by the lawmakers.
