Senate receives Buhari’s requests to confirm former CDS, Service Chiefs, one other, as Ambassadors-Designate; Adolphus as Auditor-General; Senate President decorates security aides

The Senate has received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm the immediate former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin as non/career Ambassador-Designate.

Also to be confirmed are the former Service Chiefs – Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe; former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

The President in the letter requesting the confirmation of appointment of the former CDS and Service Chiefs also sought the confirmation of Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (Rtd) as a non-career Ambassador-Designate.

The request was contained in a letter dated 4th February, 2021, and read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, immediately after the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings.

According to President Buhari, the appointment was duly carried out in accordance to section 171(1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Service Chiefs, had on 26th January, 2021, tendered their resignation from the service of the military to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President, following receipt and approval of their resignation, appointed a new CDS and Service Chiefs to replace them.

The newly appointed CDS and Service Chiefs are: Major-General LEO Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral AZ Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

In another development, the Senate, also on Tuesday, received a request from President Buhari for the confirmation of Mr. Aghughu Arhotomhenla Adolphus as Auditor-General of the Federation.

The request was contained in a letter dated 12th January, 2021, and read on the floor by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

According to President Buhari, the appointment of the nominee was pursuant to section 86(1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

In a related development, the President in two separate letters to the Senate, and dated 3rd February, 2021, requested the confirmation of Larry Obinna Collins Chukwu as Commissioner representing South-East, at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission.

Buhari in another letter sought the confirmation of Engr. Wakil Bukar as Commissioner representing Bauchi, Borno and Yobe States, at the Federal Civil Service Commission.

According to him, both requests were made in accordance with the provision of Section 2(2) of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act; and Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Same Tuesday, Dr. Lawan, decorated two of his security aides who were recently promoted by the Nigeria Police Force.

The aides were decorated by the Senate President who was assisted by the the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Jika Dauda Halliru (APC – Bauchi Central), during a brief ceremony which held in his office at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Also present at the event was the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Babagana Aji.

The decorated aides are: Umar Saidu Gajo – who was promoted from Superintendent of Police to Chief Superintendent of Police; and Olaniyan Mojeed Abidemi – promoted from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

While Gajo serves as Aide de Camp (ADC) to Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Abidemi on the other hand is an Escort Commander on his security team.

Mojeed Abidemi, as Commander of the official convoy of the Senate President, recorded a patriotic feat when he saved the lives of five Nigerians involved in an auto crash that occurred along the Onicha-Ugbo-Asaba expressway in February last year.

Lawan, immediately after decorating both aides, congratulated the officers and wished them well in the discharge of their duties.