Leaked Audio Validates Malami’s Claim On ‘Lies’ In Presidency (Audio Inside)

Rising from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, Malami was asked by Leon Osigbe of Tribune to clarify on the decision by the Senate to suspend screening of all nominees sent to it by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, following the continued stay of Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“Honourable Attorney General of the Federation. The senate resolutions arose from a statement credited to the acting president to the effect that the senate has no right to screen certain nominees of the president, can you just make a clarification here. Has the senate gone beyond its powers to actually screen nominees from the president?” the journalist asked.

In his response, Malami contradicted earlier claims made by the Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who told State House correspondents that the Senate and Magu issue was raised at the FEC meeting on Wednesday.

READ HERE: Magu: Controversy As AGF Malami Exposes ‘Lies’ In Presidency 

The AGF said: “The fundamental consideration about the alleged statement is the fact that at no point ever did the Federal Executive Council sit down to arrive at the decision in one way or the other as far as the issue of nomination or otherwise is concerned.”

https://t.co/x9wcG056yQ

— The Whistler (@TheWhistlerNG) July 6, 2017

The comments is a sharp contrast to the position of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo has always drummed support for Magu as the EFCC boss.

“I’m fully in support of Magu as the EFCC Chairman just as the president is…” Mr. Osinbajo said in April.

“It is up to the Senate to make their judgement. If our candidate is rejected, we can represent our candidate.”

Osinbajo went further to state that the Presidency could use Section 171 of the constitution to make appointments without reference to the Senate.

The section states that: “Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any of such office shall vest in the president.”

The Presidency in a quick response rebuffed the claims reported by the media, saying the AGF was misquoted.

1/ This is false and misleading, @PremiumTimesng. The Attorney General did not at any time or in any way say this. https://t.co/gqLVu7etFP

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) July 5, 2017

2/ The Attorney-General’s point is that decisions on Presidential nominations are matters for the Presidency & not the Fed Executive Council https://t.co/gqLVu7etFP

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) July 5, 2017