Lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, has stated that the embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr, Ibrahim Magu, whom lawmakers are demanding his removal, is a victim of a power-play by some forces in the presidency.

He disclosed this to reporters at the National Assembly on Thursday while fielding questions on different crises which have emanated in the past few weeks between the Senate and Executive.

Responding to perspectives of Nigerians on lawmakers in the National Assembly, Sani said: “It is unfortunate that today, many Nigerians view the National Assembly as a Cathedral of Evil and the Presidency as a Chapel of Saints.”

“If we decide to pass everything the executive sends to the Senate without questioning, Nigerians will call us a body of rubber stamp and if we choose to thoroughly scrutinise and investigate everything or nominee sent to the Senate, Nigerians will say we are confrontational to the executive or against the executive.”

Speaking further on Magu’s rejection in the Senate, he explained that “I have no problem with Magu. I was never a Governor or public office holder. Magu is a victim of a power-play by some forces in the presidency.”

He added: “The executive nominated Magu and it was also the Executive that wrote a damning report against a nominee of the executive. So as a nominee from the presidency, the presidency should have consulted properly with members of the Senate.”

He added that there was no lobbying on the part of the presidency at the National Assembly.

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