From Kemi Yesufu and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

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Members of the House of Representatives have flayed the comment by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, that the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as helmsman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not require the approval of the Senate.
The lawmakers said the comment was not only unfortunate but also made in clear disregard of the doctrine of the separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution.
The House in adopting a motion on the need to prevent the erosion of the doctrine of the separation of powers in the nation’s democratic practice, sponsored Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, called on the Executive to adhere to the country’s laws by approaching the courts for judicial interpretation if it disagreed with any law, rather than make utterances that point to a negation of the doctrine contained in Sections  4(2), 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The House also called on the Executive to approach the court for interpretation of any conflict in the EFCC Act, as it was an existing law in the country.
The senate had rejected Magu on two different occasions based on the report submitted to it by the Department of State Security (DSS), but Osinbajo inferring that legislative approval was not necessary, backed the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, that President Muhammdu Buhari did not need the confirmation of the Senate to retain Magu.