A mild drama erupted in the upper legislative chamber during the session to confirm the five persons nominated by President Buhari into the board of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, one of the nominees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) board, was said to have started primary school before he was born.
You would recall that the President had in September nominated Yahaya Muhammad, George Abang, Lukman Mohammed, Anumba Adaeze and Bola Adeshina as members of the commission, pending confirmation by the Senate.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Kwari Suleiman, while presenting his report for the consideration of the senate had said that all the nominees met the necessary requirements to hold public office.
However, Hassan Hadejia, Senator representing Jigawa North-East, drew the attention of the Senate to what he described as “discrepancies” in Muhammad’s credentials.
Hadejia said “One of the nominees, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, according to the record before us, started his primary school before he was born.”
“There is also an overlap in the sequence of his educational experience because here, he was born on 29th of September, 1969 and he started his primary school in 1968.”
“He was in Borno Teachers College from 1975 and 1988 while simultaneously he was in the college of administration studies from 1980 to 1981.”
However, despite all the mild drama and “discrepancies” Muhammad was confirmed after his nomination was put to a voice vote by Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Senate President.