Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has no fewer has no fewer than 17 suits on the propriety or otherwise of him holding that position, Punch reports.

Why it matters:

• The Senate had rejected Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman twice and urged the Presidency to present another nominee.
• This was after a report by the DSS indicted him of corruption.
• But the Presidency has said Magu will remain acting, while also stating that the permission of the National Assembly is not needed to confirm him.
• This statement had angered the lawmakers who suspended confirmation of nominees for a while.

What is happening:

One of the cases came up on Tuesday before before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The lawyers told said a related case was filed in the Yola Division of the court in Adamawa State, while another case on the same subject is before the Kano Division of the FHC.

It was learnt that some of the cases were in support of Magu, while the rest sought Magu’s removal from office.

One of the pro-Magu suits was heard on Tuesday where two lawyers from different firms presented letters that they were representing Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Senate.

Mr. S. O. Alhassan presented a letter, which engaged his law firm in June, Mr. Peter Abang presented a letter briefing his law firm in August.

The judge directed the two lawyers to sort out the conflicting briefs they got from the Senate before the next hearing date for the particular suit.

The particular suit was instituted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Jibrin Okutepa, who was represented on Tuesday by Mr. Ocholi Okutepa.

President Muhammadu Buhari, the AGF, the National Assembly, the Senate and Saraki are the respondents to the suit.

The judge adjourned until November 1.

A lawyer, Mr. Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had earlier filed a suit seeking a declaratory order deeming that the Senate had confirmed Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.

In the 17-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by the plaintiff, he wanted the court to hold that Magu’s appointment by Buhari was based on his sterling performance at the EFCC.

The plaintiff noted that Saraki and his wife were part of the persons currently being investigated by Magu.

Azeez