The Nigerian newly appointed service Chiefs have been slated to face the House of Representative for a screening tomorrow. However, according to the Chairman House Committee on Defense, Babajide Benson, for security reasons, it was learned that they will be screened behind a closed door.
The new Service Chiefs who were appointed by President Buhari last three weeks are; Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea lrabor – Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo – Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao – Chief of Air staff.
The Service Chiefs were appointed to fill the vacant following the resignation of the former Service Chiefs from office who were; Chief of Defense Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila has last week Wednesday read the letter from President Buhari seeking the lawmakers to confirm the new Service Chiefs.
The President's letter dated January 27, 2021, while was received at the house on February 5th, 2021.
Subsequently, the Speaker of the House inaugurated a committee to be chaired by the Chairman, House Committee on Defense, Babajide Benson, and other deputy chairmen and some of the military-related standing committee to carry out the assignment.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that the service chiefs would face the House Committee by 10:00 hrs on Wednesday.
Mr. Benson said, “You know that for security issues, you don’t want to put information out there that the enemy will use against us. We will make some opening remarks but the main ‘question and answer’ session (would be behind closed doors).
“Nigerians should rest assured that we have moved (and adopted) several motions on insecurity and those resolutions are uppermost in our mind. We want safety and security to return to our national life. We are mindful of all that.”
It was also learned that the Senate responsible for the oversight function would also screen the Service Chiefs within the week.
Although some legal luminaries argued that the appointment by President Buhari unilaterally for the service Chiefs has gone against the Federal High Court Judgment of 2013 by Justice Adamu Bello.
The house has said that the Service Chiefs shall remain in an acting capacity until the House confirms them.
Although, the current minister for state for Labor and productivity, Festus Keyamo (SAN) has earlier challenged the court judgment in a suit, while other SANs were of the opinion that the court ruling is followed pending a counter ruling.
