Senate secretly screening service chiefs

‎The senate is currently screening the service chiefs in a closed-door session.

The senate, which initially dissolved into “the committee of the whole”, went into an executive session at 11 am.

The service chiefs – Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (chief of defence staff‎), Tukur Yusufu Buratai (chief of army staff), Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (chief of Naval staff), and Sadique Baba Abubakar (chief of air staff) – were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13.

And in letter read by the senate president, on the floor of the senate last Tuesday, Buhari said he was seeking the approval of the senate to comply with the extant laws of the country.

“In compliance with section 18 (1) of the armed forces Act (CAP820) laws of the federal republic of Nigeria 2004, I hereby forward the names of the underlisted officers for the kind confirmation of the federal republic of Nigeria,” he had said.

The screening of the military chiefs in the closed-door session has gone on for more than three hours, yet the senate has not resumed in an open session.

TheCable understands that ‎the senate made the screening closed owing to the sensitive security posers it sought answers for.

Also, the current security challenges in the northeast and other parts of the country are dominating the subject of the screening.