Buhari clears air on appointment of service chiefs, says no law was violated

- President Buhari has reacted to the criticisms over the appointment of the new service chiefs

- Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, had earlier described the appointment as illegal

- But the presidency in its reaction said the names of the new service chiefs have been sent to the National Assembly for confirmation

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Following the controversy that trailed the appointment of the new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidency has responded, saying the president has regard for the National Assembly.

Legit.ng reports that the presidency was reacting to the fears expressed in some quarters that President Buhari “bypassed” the National Assembly in the process of appointment of the service chiefs.

It was alleged that the president has no intention of seeking their consideration and confirmation in the appointment of the new service chiefs.

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The presidency added that the same procedure was adopted when the immediate past service chiefs were appointed in 2015, adding that upon announcement of the appointment of the then service chiefs, the president wrote the 8th Senate on July 14, 2015, for confirmation.

It noted that while the correspondence was read on the floor of the Senate on July 28, 2015, consideration and confirmation of the appointments was carried out at the committee of the whole on August 4, 2015.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the appointment of new service chiefs by President Buhari was described as illegal.

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It was reported that the Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) said this in a statement he made available to journalists.

He quoted a 2013 judgment that described the appointments of service chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly as illegal and unconstitutional.

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Presidency finally reveals details of Buhari's first meeting with new service chiefs

In a related report, days after appointing new service chiefs, President Buhari wrote to the National Assembly, seeking their confirmation.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the president's special adviser on National Assembly matters, Babajide Omoworare, and released on Friday, January 29.

Omoworare also addressed the speculations that President Buhari bypassed the National Assembly in the process of appointing the new service chiefs.

Source: Legit.ng