The Senate Committee on Finance has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure the appearance of the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Mr Ishaq Magaji, within 24 hours.
The committee issued this directive on Wednesday, citing Section 89 (2) of the 1999 Constitution to compel Magaji’s appearance after he ignored three invitations to appear before them.
Magaji was scheduled to defend the commission’s 2024 budget before the committee, but he failed to show up on three occasions. Four senior officials of the CAC confirmed that Magaji received the invitation letters but were unable to explain his repeated absence.
Expressing frustration, Sen. Bello Mandiya (Katsina-South) criticized Magaji’s disrespect for the committee and questioned what he might be hiding by avoiding the invitations.
He remarked, “Even the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appears before us to present a budget. Who is the Registrar-General of CAC that cannot appear before us?”
Sen. Abdul Ningi advised the CAC officials not to return without the RG, urging them to address discrepancies in revenue generation and expenditure. Ningi emphasised the importance of the RG’s presence, stating, “Don’t take the bullet that is meant for him.”
After considering the committee members’ views, Sen. Sani Musa made a ruling, declaring, “With all sense of humility, the Corporate Affairs RG has disregarded this committee.”
Musa invoked Section 89(2) and mandated the Inspector-General of Police to compel Magaji’s appearance before the Senate Committee on Finance within 24 hours, emphasizing the discrepancies in the CAC’s finances and the need for the RG to address them promptly.
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