Buhari candidates confirmed as members of Judicial Service Commission

The Senate, on Wednesday, confirmed the elections of Nnamonso Ekanem and Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

The nominees who are from Akwa Ibom and Niger states are to represent the south-south and north-central zones on the Commission, respectively.

The verification of both nominees followed the factor to consider of a report by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in his presentation, stated their nominations were made by President Muhammadu Buhari pursuant to Section 154, subsections (1) and (3) in conformity with Paragraph 12 (e) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as changed).

According to the legislator, the candidates “are healthy and correct persons for visit as Members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.”

He divulged that there was no petition or unfavorable report against the nominees, adding that, “record checks and other forms of investigations by security firms did not expose any unfavorable trace against them.”

Bamidele expressed fulfillment with the qualifications, experience, proficiency and stability of the candidates as Members of the Commission.

In an associated advancement, the Senate has actually forwarded President Buhari’s request for the verification of four nominees as Commissioners for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Committee on Power.

The candidates who are to appear prior to the panel for evaluating include Dr. Yusuf Ali (North Central), Engr. Chidi Ike (South East), Mr. Nathan Shatti (North East) and Mr. Dafe Akpeneye (South-South).

The Committee was provided two weeks by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to report back to the chamber in plenary.

On the other hand, the chamber, on Wednesday, stepped down the factor to consider of a report by the Committee on Aviation on the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Bill, 2021.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, offered a presentation on the report.

The factor to consider of the report was, nevertheless, suspended midway after the lawmakers identified a “mix-up” in the Committee’s report on the costs.

The motion for the report to be stepped down was moved by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) and seconded by Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North).