The Presidency has disowned statements reportedly made by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that certain nominees do not need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Acting President, Osinbajo
The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s claims that the Senate has no powers to confirm nominees appointed by the presidency, was on Wednesday, disowned by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said at no time did the Federal Executive Council take a position or decide on the issue.
The AGF and the presidential spokesman separately addressed State House correspondents after yesterday’s FEC meeting, presided over by Osinbajo.
Malami said: “The fundamental consideration about the alleged statement (by Osinbajo) is the fact that at no point ever did the Federal Executive Council sit down to arrive at the decision in one way or the other as far as the issue of nomination or otherwise is concerned.
"So, I do not think it constitutes an issue for the Federal Executive Council to make any clarification about because it has never been considered by the FEC.”
Shehu clarified that the remarks made months ago by Osinbajo on nominees’ confirmation was his personal opinion.
He said Osinbajo was being misconstrued for merely corroborating a lawyer’s view that a certain category of appointees need not undergo Senate’s screening.
Shehu emphasised that there was no official position or decision on the matter by FEC.
Recall that, upon resuming from break, the Senate had on Wednesday, went into a standoff with the presidency, vowing to stand down all requests for confirmation into executive positions in the Federal Government following the outburst and challenge from the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to the Senate’s capacity to confirm certain nominees of the executive into federal bodies.
In their resolution, the Senate asked the Acting President to apologise for his challenge, vowing that it would stand down all requests for confirmation into executive positions in the Federal Government.