The Nigerian Senate had on Wednesday confirmed a nominee for the board of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, even when it was discovered he went to school before he was born.
Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, had on Tuesday implored the Senate to confirm the appointments of Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad and four other nominees for the board of the anti-graft agency in September.
The other nominees confirmed by the Senate were George Abang (secretary), Lukman Mohammed, Anumba Adaeze and Bola Adesina.
However, during the screening process, Hassan Hadejia, senator representing Jigawa North-East called the attention of the lawmakers to the “discrepancies” in Muhammad’s credentials.
“One of the nominees, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad — according to the record before us, started his primary school before he was born,” the senator said.
“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," he revealed.
Nonetheless, the EFCC nominee was confirmed after the process was subjected to a voice vote by Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy Senate President.