Nigeria: Senate ignores DSS report, confirms 82-year-old as ambassador

Brushing aside an unfavourable report from the Department of State Services (DSS), on Justice Sylvanus Nsofor, Senate, yesterday, confirmed his nomination as

ambassador.

Nsofor is a former justice of the Court of Appeal. He was first rejected on March 13, 2017, alongside Jacob Daodu from Ondo State, who He also got an unfavorable report from the DSS.

Explaining the rationale behind the disqualification of Nsofor in March, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Monsurat Sunmonu, said the Imo nominee was too old to hold public office.

His re-nomination was sent to the Senate in a March 29 letter and received on April 11, 2017.

Reading the report of the committee yesterday, Senator Sunmonu said the DSS report disqualified Justice Nsofor because of old age. She said the service warned that he was unfit and incapable of discharging the demands of his office.

The lawmaker, however, added that unlike his first appearance, Justice Nsofor proved during the screening that he is fit to represent Nigeria as ambassador.

Ironically, Senate, also relying on a DSS report, refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu, as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) some months ago.

Similar to the report on Justice Nsofor, the DSS advised Senate not to confirm Magu as EFCC chairman. Just like Justice Nsofor, Magu’s name was submitted twice by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, Senate has mandated the committee to investigate claims that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has increased its 2017 pilgrimage fares to N1.5 million per pilgrim.

Senate decision was based on a point of order raised by Senator Umaru Kurfi, from Katsina State.

He called on Senate to investigate claims that NAHCON has unilaterally increased Hajj fares, despite the recession.

Despite unfavourable/sd

Senate ignores  DSS report, confirms 82-year-old ‎ambassadorial nominee

From FRED ITUA, Abuja

Despitean unfavourable report submitted by the Department of State Services (DSS), against an ambassadorial nominee, Justice Sylvanus Nsofor, the Senate, yesterday, confirmed him.

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