Senate orders IG to bring CAC leader before committee within 24 hours
The Senate Committee on Finance has instructed the Inspector General of Police to ensure the appearance of the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Ishaq Magaji, before it within 24 hours.
The Senate Committee Chairman, Sani Musa, expressed frustration when the Registrar General failed to honor the committee’s invitation for the third time on Wednesday.
He was expected to appear in order to defend the commission’s 2024 budget, as the committee had identified some financial irregularities in the documents submitted.
The four senior officials of the commission, having acknowledged multiple letters of invitation from the Clerk of the Senate Committee on Finance, were unable to provide reasons for the Registrar General’s absence before the panel.
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Before Musa’s comment, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) called for punitive measures against the Registrar General in order to deter others.
Senator Bello Mandiya, representing Katsina South, expressed frustration at Magaji’s disregard for the committee, questioning what he was hiding that made him frightened.
Mandiya said, “I think it’s disrespectful for the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission to ignore this Committee for the third time.
“Even the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appear before us to present a budget.
“Who is Registrar General of CAC that cannot appear before us?”
In response, Senator Abdul Ningi advised the CAC officials not to return without Magaji, urging them to allow the CAC to face the pressure and explain how the funds were spent in the agency.
Ningi said, “Mr Chairman, it’s important to emphasize that this is not their first appearance before the committee.
“There was a discussion with you about discrepancies in revenue generation and expenditure by the Corporate Affairs Commission, and we said the Registrar General should be present.
“Yet, you are here and you probably told him that you can do the job. Even if you can do the job, this responsibility is not for you. Please, don’t take the blame that is meant for him.”
In his ruling after the committee members’ input, Musa stated, “With all due respect, the Registrar General of Corporate Affairs disregarded this committee.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission was present when we addressed MTEF/FSP and the Director of Finance was here. We noticed discrepancies and instructed you to tidy up and report back, but you but you never did.”
“I am invoking Section 89 (2) mandating the Inspector General of Police to compel appearance of the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission before the Senate Committee on Finance within 24 hours,” Musa ruled.
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