The disagreement between the executive and Senate over
Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim
Magu, worsened, yesterday, as senators asked President Muhammadu Buhari to
urgently sack him.
Ibrahim Magu Consequently, the Senate warned that should the
President fail to heed its call, senator would no longer attend to nominations
from the Presidency. Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, who made this known
while addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, said with a Federal High
Court in Abuja upholding the Senate’s decision on Magu, it had been vindicated,
and urged the President to now sack Magu. He said: “We are pleased with this
judgement and salute the judiciary for rising to the occasion . With this, the
Senate expects the executive to be guided by the court decision and do the
needful by forwarding name of any credible Nigerian for the EFCC office .
‘’There is nothing personal in the whole thing. The court has ruled and all
parties concerned must obey.” A concerned Nigerian, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had on
January 14, 2017, sued the Senate at a Federal High Court, Abuja,for rejecting
Magu’ s confirmation as EFCC Chairman. The litigant in the suit, no
FHC/ABJ/CS/59/2017, which had the Senate President and Attorney-General of the
Federation as co-defendants, prayed the court to nullify Magu’s rejection by
the Senate since, according to him, the upper legislative chamber has no power
to confirm him in the first place, let alone reject him. The plantiff, who
cited section 2 (1) (a) (i) (ii) (iii) and 2 (3) of EFCC ( Establishment ) Act,
2004 to argue his case in paragraphs 7-18 , said the statutory powers of such
appointmrnt and confirmation lie with the President in line with the cited
extant laws of the commission. But in his judgement dated January 15, 2018, the
presiding Judge, Justice J.T. Tsoho, ruled that the Senate, as constitutionally
empowered, had powers to confirm or reject any presidential nominee forwarded
to it at anytime. According to him, Magu’s rejection is in the right order
since intendment of the laws as it regards the Senate was not to serve as a
rubber stamp of the President. The judgement read in part: “The plaintiff
raised two issues in the written address for determination, to wit: whether or
not the 1st defendant can reject a valid statutory appointment made by the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Office of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission in accordance with the provisions of the EFCC
(Establishment) Act, 2004. “Whether or not the 1st defendant is bound by the
provisions of the EFCC Act, 2004 with respect to the confirmation of any
appointment made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the
Office of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “Having
regard to the questions presented for determination and the reliefs sought in
the originating summons by the plaintiff in this instant suit, his locus
standi, in my humble opinion, is doubtful. The affidavit depositions which give
background information of the plaintiff have not disclosed sufficient stake or
peculiar interest of the plaintiff above others, that entitles him to institute
this action. “ Paragraphs 4, 5 & 6 of the affidavit in support of the
originating summons have introduced the plaintiff as a certified Legislative
Counsel/Professional drafter trained by the Commonwealth Secretariat, London,
United Kingdom at the Ghana School of Law, Accra, Ghana. Also that he is a
solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and currently a Legal
practitioner in a Law firm. This in my humble view does not establish any
special or unique interest of the plaintiff above those of others, that
entitles him to institute this action. On this premise, the suit is liable to
be struck out for lack of standing to maintain the action. “Nevertheless, the
Court will consider the merits of the issues raised for determination by the
plaintiff. “Issue 1 borders on the power of the Senate in respect of statutory
appointment under the EFCC Act referred to it by the President. The relevant
provision relating to appointment of the Chairman of the EFCC is Section 2 (1)
& (3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004. Section 2 (3) provides as
follows, “The Chairman and members of the Commission other than ex-officio members
shall be appointed by the president and the appointment shall be subject to
confirmation of the Senate. “ Firstly, the use of the word ‘shall’ in a
legislation usually denotes mandatoriness. Therefore, while the plaintiff
recognises the use of the word ‘shall’ as conferring mandatory and unqualified
powers on the President to appoint the Chairman of the EFCC, sight must not be
lost that the same word is used in respect of confirmation by the Senate of
such appointment. Therefore interpretation of the word ‘shall’ should logically
have the same effect regarding both situations. “More importantly, the
expression ‘subject to’ used in Section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act is very
instructive. The expression ‘subject to’ has been interpreted to mean liable,
subordinate, subservient, or inferior to; governed or affectedby; provide that
or provided; answerable for. ‘It has been categorically stated that the phrase
‘subject to’ introduces a condition, a restriction, a limitation, a proviso. “
On issue 2 for determination, there is no doubt that that 1st defendant is
bound by the provisions of the EFCC Act with respect to appointment of Chairman
of the EFCC by the president. “It should be realised that the provision of
Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act, empowers the Senate, headed by the 1st defendant
to confirm an appointee to the thce of the Chairman EFCC by the President. The
Senate is thus conferred with authority to ensure the choice of only suitable
and credible persons for appointment to that office. The submission of the plaintiff
however gives the impression that the Senate only exists to rubber stamp the
president’s appointment of a Chairman. Such viewpoint runs counter to the
proper intendment of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act and is misconceived. Issue 2
is also resolved. “The point must be made that it is trite law generally, that
where a plaintiff’s claim is unchallenged and uncontroverted, the court will
accept the available evidence and act on it. “There is however exception to
this, where the court finds that the plaintiff’s action is not maintainable,
despite being unchallenged. This, I humbly hold to be the position in the
instant suit, as I regard as doubtful the plaintiff’s capacity or competence to
maintain the action. Consequently, this suit is struck out”.
The disagreement
between the executive and Senate over Acting Chairman of Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, worsened, yesterday, as
senators asked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently sack him.
Ibrahim Magu
Consequently, the Senate warned that should the President fail to heed
its call, senator would no longer attend to nominations from the
Presidency.
Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, who made this known while addressing
journalists in Abuja, yesterday, said with a Federal High Court in Abuja
upholding the Senate’s decision on Magu, it had been vindicated, and
urged the President to now sack Magu.
He said: “We are pleased with this judgement and salute the judiciary
for rising to the occasion . With this, the Senate expects the executive
to be guided by the court decision and do the needful by forwarding
name of any credible Nigerian for the EFCC office .
‘’There is nothing personal in the whole thing. The court has ruled and
all parties concerned must obey.”
A concerned Nigerian, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had on January 14, 2017, sued
the Senate at a Federal High Court, Abuja,for rejecting Magu’ s
confirmation as EFCC Chairman.
The litigant in the suit, no FHC/ABJ/CS/59/2017, which had the Senate
President and Attorney-General of the Federation as co-defendants,
prayed the court to nullify Magu’s rejection by the Senate since,
according to him, the upper legislative chamber has no power to confirm
him in the first place, let alone reject him.
The plantiff, who cited section 2 (1) (a) (i) (ii) (iii) and 2 (3) of
EFCC ( Establishment ) Act, 2004 to argue his case in paragraphs 7-18
, said the statutory powers of such appointmrnt and confirmation lie
with the President in line with the cited extant laws of the commission.
But in his judgement dated January 15, 2018, the presiding Judge,
Justice J.T. Tsoho, ruled that the Senate, as constitutionally
empowered, had powers to confirm or reject any presidential nominee
forwarded to it at anytime.
According to him, Magu’s rejection is in the right order since
intendment of the laws as it regards the Senate was not to serve as a
rubber stamp of the President.
The judgement read in part: “The plaintiff raised two issues in the
written address for determination, to wit: whether or not the 1st
defendant can reject a valid statutory appointment made by the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Office of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission in accordance with the provisions of the
EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
“Whether or not the 1st defendant is bound by the provisions of the EFCC
Act, 2004 with respect to the confirmation of any appointment made by
the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Office of the
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Having regard to the questions presented for determination and the
reliefs sought in the originating summons by the plaintiff in this
instant suit, his locus standi, in my humble opinion, is doubtful. The
affidavit depositions which give background information of the plaintiff
have not disclosed sufficient stake or peculiar interest of the
plaintiff above others, that entitles him to institute this action.
“ Paragraphs 4, 5 & 6 of the affidavit in support of the originating
summons have introduced the plaintiff as a certified Legislative
Counsel/Professional drafter trained by the Commonwealth Secretariat,
London, United Kingdom at the Ghana School of Law, Accra, Ghana. Also
that he is a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and
currently a Legal practitioner in a Law firm. This in my humble view
does not establish any special or unique interest of the plaintiff above
those of others, that entitles him to institute this action. On this
premise, the suit is liable to be struck out for lack of standing to
maintain the action.
“Nevertheless, the Court will consider the merits of the issues raised
for determination by the plaintiff.
“Issue 1 borders on the power of the Senate in respect of statutory
appointment under the EFCC Act referred to it by the President. The
relevant provision relating to appointment of the Chairman of the EFCC
is Section 2 (1) & (3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Section 2 (3) provides as follows, “The Chairman and members of the
Commission other than ex-officio members shall be appointed by the
president and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation of the
Senate.
“ Firstly, the use of the word ‘shall’ in a legislation usually denotes
mandatoriness. Therefore, while the plaintiff recognises the use of the
word ‘shall’ as conferring mandatory and unqualified powers on the
President to appoint the Chairman of the EFCC, sight must not be lost
that the same word is used in respect of confirmation by the Senate of
such appointment. Therefore interpretation of the word ‘shall’ should
logically have the same effect regarding both situations.
“More importantly, the expression ‘subject to’ used in Section 2 (3) of
the EFCC Act is very instructive. The expression ‘subject to’ has been
interpreted to mean liable, subordinate, subservient, or inferior to;
governed or affectedby; provide that or provided; answerable for. ‘It
has been categorically stated that the phrase ‘subject to’ introduces a
condition, a restriction, a limitation, a proviso.
“ On issue 2 for determination, there is no doubt that that 1st
defendant is bound by the provisions of the EFCC Act with respect to
appointment of Chairman of the EFCC by the president.
“It should be realised that the provision of Section 2(3) of the EFCC
Act, empowers the Senate, headed by the 1st defendant to confirm an
appointee to the thce of the Chairman EFCC by the President. The Senate
is thus conferred with authority to ensure the choice of only suitable
and credible persons for appointment to that office. The submission of
the plaintiff however gives the impression that the Senate only exists
to rubber stamp the president’s appointment of a Chairman. Such
viewpoint runs counter to the proper intendment of Section 2 (3) of the
EFCC Act and is misconceived. Issue 2 is also resolved.
“The point must be made that it is trite law generally, that where a
plaintiff’s claim is unchallenged and uncontroverted, the court will
accept the available evidence and act on it.
“There is however exception to this, where the court finds that the
plaintiff’s action is not maintainable, despite being unchallenged.
This, I humbly hold to be the position in the instant suit, as I regard
as doubtful the plaintiff’s capacity or competence to maintain the
action. Consequently, this suit is struck out”.
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/remove-magu-now-senate-tells-buhari/
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/remove-magu-now-senate-tells-buhari/
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