Saraki Says Court Ruling Vindicates 8th Senate Over Magu’s Tenure

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the recent Court of Appeal ruling declaring Ibrahim Magu’s prolonged tenure as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) unlawful has vindicated the position taken by the eighth Senate under his leadership.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday overturned a 2019 judgment of the Federal High Court, which had upheld Magu’s continued stay as acting EFCC chairman despite the Senate’s rejection of his nomination as substantive chairman.

A three-member panel of the appellate court delivered the judgment in an appeal filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who had challenged Magu’s continued stay in office after the Senate rejected his nomination twice. (TheCable)

Reacting to the ruling, Saraki recalled that the eighth Senate rejected Magu’s nomination in 2016 and 2017.

According to him, the Senate’s decision was not politically motivated but an exercise of its constitutional responsibility.

Saraki also alleged that he, other members of the eighth Senate, their families and associates faced pressure following the rejection of Magu’s nomination, describing the experience as coming at a significant personal and public cost.

“Nearly a decade later, I feel vindicated yet again,” Saraki said in his reaction to the court ruling.

Magu served as acting EFCC chairman from 2015 until July 2020, when he was suspended from office. The latest Court of Appeal ruling concerns the legality of his former prolonged acting tenure and does not affect the current leadership of the anti-graft agency.