Why we visited Buhari – Saraki, Dogara

Speaker, House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara (left), Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Senior Special Assistant to the president on National Assembly (House of Representatives) Suleiman Kawu Sumaila after Saraki’s, Dogara’s meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Senate screens Magu today, insists on Customs CG’s appearance

Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said they visited President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday to discuss matters of “national interest.”

Emerging from the 40 minutes meeting with Dogara, Saraki told State House correspondents that the issues they discussed with Buhari were matters of national interest, which included the recent confirmation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), ambassadorial nominees that is due, stability in the Niger Delta and the ongoing 2017 budget.

Also fielding questions, Dogara ‎assured of the Legislature’s readiness to cooperate with other arms of government to facilitate the speedy development and progress of the country. Buhari resumed his presidential duties on Monday after spending seven weeks in London on medical leave for an undisclosed ailment. Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday announced that it would screen the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today.

Ibrahim Magu’s screening, announced by Saraki yesterday would be coming four months after his first nomination was rejected by the Senate because of the allegations of corruption raised against him by the Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura.

The Senate also yesterday insisted that the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NIS), rtd Colonel Hameed Ali should appear before it tomorrow (Wednesday) over the new import duty policy.

The Upper Chamber had last Thursday while adopting a motion moved by Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West), summoned Ali to appear before it in his uniform depicting the rank of a Comptroller-General.

But the embattled Customs CG in a letter signed on his behalf by an Assistant Comptroller-General, Azarema Abubakar, asked the Senate to give him another day for his appearance on grounds that he was presiding over internal management meeting of the Customs Service.