The Nigerian Senate has summoned the secretary to the government of the federation and the Foreign Affairs minister, over alleged irregularities in the ambassadorial list.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
During today's plenary session at the National Assembly, members of the senate resolved a motion and summoned Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), and Geoffrey Onyeama, Foreign Affairs minister, over alleged irregularities in the ambassadorial list.
It was widely reported that on June 9, President Muhammadu Buhari sent a list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to the senate for confirmation, but the list generated much controversy owing to alleged irregularities in the process of nominating the yet-to-be confirmed ambassadors.
A senator from Plateau state, Joshua Dariye, who raised a point of order during today's plenary session, urged the senate to invite the SGF and the minister to explain the cause of the alleged irregularities in the list.
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki put Dariye’s request to a voice vote after a brief debate, and members voted in favour of summoning the duo.
The upper legislative chamber afterwards directed its committee on foreign affairs to invite the SGF and the minister.
Speaking on the issue, Saraki said: “On career ambassadors we must ensure that the process is transparent. It is important the senate committee invite the SGF and minister of foreign affairs to explain the processes the names came about.”
Below are tweets we gathered from the Nigerian senate's page;