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The Senate chamber had a rowdy session as lawmakers disagreed over the confirmation of four new members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The members are Ndasule Moses, Lawan Mamman, Galadanci Najib and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in July 2016 written to the Senate, seeking confirmation of the nominees as members of the commission.
The chairman of the Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Chukwuka Utazi, had presented a report of the committee to the lawmakers.
In the report presented by its Chairman, Sen. Chukwuma Utazi (PDP-Enugu North), the committee recommended their confirmation on the basis of their “qualification, experience and suitability” for the job.
However, the committee observed that the nomination did not reflect the Federal Character Principle as the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones were excluded.
Sen. Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra Central), opposed the nomination on the ground that it would send more wrong signals about the fight against corruption.
He said it was wrong for members of the EFCC board to be appointed from the North-East and South-West zones, which had already produced the chairman and secretary of the commission respectively.
He urged the Senate to be “bold enough” to step down consideration of the report and return the nomination to the Presidency.