"Confirm Magu, I have adequate clarification on him," President writes Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari says he has been adequately briefed on the security report which led to the Senates rejection of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Senate President Bukola Saraki stated this on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 while reading a letter by President Buhari to the upper chamber seeking the confirmation of Magu as EFCC chairman.

The Senate had on Thursday, December 15, 2016, rejected Magu's nomination as EFCC chairman based on a security report by the Department of State Services (DSS).

But in the fresh letter sent to the Senate, President Buhari was, however, silent on the allegation adding that he had been briefed on the matter.

"There is the need to maintain the current momentum and capacity of the EFCC since May 29, 2015," President Buhari's letter reads.

"It is in the above context that I, therefore, request the gracious indulgence of the Senate to favourably accept my renomination of Mr Ibrahim Magu Mustapha for the position of EFCC chairman haven received adequate clarification considering the matter relied upon by the Senate in arriving at its decision."

President Buhari's silence on the allegations against Magu however began to generate mixed reaction on the floor of the Senate with lawmakers questioning the President's insistence on his confirmation despite the the security report.

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A Senator who spoke to on the condition of anonymity however said the security report could have been as a result of inter-agency rivalry between the EFCC and DSS.

"For Mr President [Buhari] to have renominated Magu, it shows that he knows what he is doing," the Senator said.

"Also, we cannot rule out the fact that the DSS report could have been as a result of rivalry between them and EFCC. That inter-party rivalry has been there for long and we cannot rule it out.

"Remember when the DSS raided the homes of judges, the EFCC said that was their duty, not DSS. These are some of the things involved," the lawmaker added.

President Buhari also maintained that the confirmation of Magu by the Senate would strengthen the anti-corruption war which his administration has committed itself.