The Court of Appeal delivered a ruling on Ibrahim Magu’s years-long tenure as acting EFCC Chairman without Senate confirmationFormer Senate President Bukola Saraki said the 8th Senate rejected Magu’s nomination twice, in 2016 and 2017, on constitutional groundsSaraki said he and his colleagues faced personal and public consequences for standing against Magu’s continued stay in officePAY ATTENTION: Mark Legit.ng as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over eight years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issuesFCT, Abuja – The Court of Appeal has ruled that Ibrahim Magu’s time as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was unlawful, a decision that former Senate President Bukola Saraki said vindicates a stand he took nearly a decade ago.Saraki, who led the 8th Senate, said his chamber rejected Magu’s nomination as substantive EFCC Chairman on two separate occasions, in 2016 and 2017, on constitutional grounds. Saraki rejoices as court of appeal rules Ibrahim Magu’s Acting EFCC tenure was unlawful. Photo credit: @bukolasaraki/officialEFCC Source: TwitterDespite those rejections, Magu continued to serve in an acting capacity until July 2020, a period Saraki described as illegal.PAY ATTENTION: From breaking news to viral moments. Follow Legit.ng on Instagram!Senate’s rejection of MaguThe former Senate President said the decision to turn down Magu’s nomination was never political.
He insisted the Senate was carrying out its constitutional duty, though critics at the time framed it as a power struggle.This was contained in a statement issued via his X handle @bukolasaraki on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.Saraki said the consequences of that stand were severe. He described what he called attempts by Magu to “terrorise” him, his colleagues, and their families and associates during that period. “Doing what was right came at a huge personal and public cost,” he said.Saraki reacts to court rulingFollowing the Court of Appeal’s judgment, Saraki said he felt vindicated. He recalled the popular saying that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” pointing to the ruling as proof of that principle.”Nearly a decade later, I feel vindicated yet again,” Saraki saidHe added that the ruling reinforced his belief that time, while it may test a person’s conviction, ultimately rewards those who stand on principle.Magu was removed from the EFCC in July 2020 after a presidential panel probed allegations of misconduct against him.
He had never received Senate confirmation throughout his time heading the anti-corruption agency.Saraki’s alleged preferred 2027 presidential candidate disclosed Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that Senator Saliu Mustapha alleged Saraki was supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid through the Rainbow Coalition.Mustapha, who dumped the APC for the PDP, said his defection was a collective decision by several Kwara political groups with grievances against the governor.The senator confirmed the group’s political battle was directly against Kwara governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the APC governorship nomination process. Source: Legit.ng Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Ojo, and brings over eight years of professional media experience to his role. He has spent his career refining his craft at PM News, The Sun, and Within Nigeria.
In 2024, he earned a certification in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. He can be reached at adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng EFCCIbrahim MaguBukola SarakiNigeria Court of Appeal Turkey Lynette nusbacher Heart touching messages Deep love letters Regina hall
