Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) on Thursday insisted that President Jonathan did not follow due process in the nomination of the Service Chiefs.
Sen. Gaya, in a Point of Order, had noted that there was a subsisting judicial pronouncement which mandated the President to consult the Senate before Service Chiefs could be nominated.
He said that it was obvious that “Mr. President did not consult the Senate before the new crops of Service Chiefs were nominated,” adding that he was aware that the new Service Chiefs have already assumed duty without any input by the Senate.
Gaya wondered what would happen if any of the nominated Service Chiefs fail Senate screening, insisting that “this matter is in court and there is a judgment on this matter.”
Gaya’s outburt came shortly after the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, had prayed the Senate to consider the request of Mr. President for the confirmation of nominees for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Ndoma-Egba ,who read from the Senate Order Paper listed Air Marshall Alex Badeh (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Kenneth Minimah (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu (Chief of Air Staff) as those Jonathan requested the Senate to confirm for their various positions.
However, before other Senators could contribute, Senate President, David Mark, sensing the implication of the points raised by Senator Gaya, said that President Jonathan had merely announced the names of nominated Service Chiefs and have neither been inaugurated nor decorated by Mr. President.
He added that the nominee Service Chiefs could only be decorated when they were screened and confirmed by the National Assembly.