Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has said that for the nomination of Mr Ibrahim Magu to go through the Senate, there is need for the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, to lobby the senators.

Senator Ita-Giwa, who is a former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, said this following the rejection of Mr Ibrahim Magu, who was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as the acting chairman of the EFCC for the second time based on reports from the Department of State Service (DSS).

She said the current scenario between the executive and legislative arms of government was part of the principles of separation of powers, which according to her, is the hallmark of democracy.

She said, “We have to be careful to know that there is separation of powers. Magu’s case is a delicate one. However, if the president believes that he is the man who can help fight corruption, he has the power to keep re-presenting him. He can present him up to four times if he insists that he is the person that will help fight corruption.

“There is need for intensive lobbying now. Lobbying is allowed. Cordiality between the executive and legislative arms should be strengthened.”

Ita-Giwa, however, cautioned the upper legislative chamber to be careful in order not to make the acting chairman of the EFCC a superstar out of sympathy from the populace.

She recalled that a former chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu and an ex-minister of aviation, Prof. Babalola Aborishade, as nominees were screened up to four times by the Senate before they were eventually cleared during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.