Rowdy session occasioned at the Nigerian senate floor on Tuesday during the confirmation of some nominees of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Chairman of the senate committee on anti-corruption, Chukwuka Utazi, had presented a report on the screening of the nominees by his committee.
The committee had recommended that the senate confirm Ndasule Moses, Lawan Mamman, Galadanci Najib and Adeleke Rafiu as members of the EFCC.
But senators from the southern part of the country protested the exclusion of southerners on the list.
Speaking after the anti-corruption chairman presented his report, Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, said the nominees should not be confirmed because the south-east and south-south were excluded, according to TheCable.
“The south-south and south-east are not accommodated in the commission. On the issue of the fight against corruption – it involves all parts of Nigeria,” Umeh said:
“If you look at the composition, Mr President, some people will think that the fight against corruption is instituted against them. There is need to take people from other geo-political zones.”
He noted that Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the commission; and Olanipkekun Olukoyede, secretary of the commission, are from the north-east and south-west respectively.
Responding, Utazi said a committee set up to look at the president’s alleged lopsided appointments had “gone underground and refused to present a report”.
Also, Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, said the consideration of the nominees should be stepped down until it is amended.
But Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, said Utazi should have drawn the attention of the senate leadership to the matter instead of bringing a report urging them to confirm the nominees.
This led to a rowdy session as both Utazii and Isah Misau, senator representing Bauchi central, interrupted Ndume, prompting the lawmakers to go into a closed-door session.