Pandemonium busted during the Nigerian Senate plenary on Thursday as lawmakers confronted the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussain Ishaq Magaji, over allegations that he repeatedly ignored invitations and summons from the National Assembly.
The dramatic development unfolded during the Senate Committee on Finance’s 2026 budget defence and interactive session on economic matters.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, in a fiery address, moved a motion demanding the immediate removal of Magaji, describing his repeated absence as an affront to the legislature and a humiliation to lawmakers. According to Kalu, the Registrar General’s continued failure to appear before the committee undermines the authority of the National Assembly and disrupts oversight functions crucial to governance.
Kalu urged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu be formally contacted to terminate Magaji’s appointment. He also called for a warrant to compel the CAC boss to appear before the committee, stressing that compliance with legislative summons is a non-negotiable part of public office accountability.
The motion was promptly seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who went further by proposing that the CAC’s 2026 budget allocation be temporarily withheld until the Registrar General provides a satisfactory explanation and honours the committee’s invitation. Oshiomhole emphasised that fiscal prudence and oversight cannot be compromised and that withholding funds would serve as a necessary lever to enforce compliance.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sani Musa, expressed his own frustration with Magaji, describing the Registrar General’s repeated refusals to attend hearings as unacceptable. He stated clearly that legislative summons must be respected and that ignoring them erodes public confidence in governance structures. Senator Musa then called for a voice vote on the motion, asking,
“Those in support, please say yes; those against, say nay.” The majority of senators responded in the affirmative, signalling the committee’s collective determination to take firm action.
Following the vote, the committee continued its budget defence session, but the issue of the CAC Registrar’s compliance and potential removal remained unresolved. Lawmakers warned that further defiance could trigger additional sanctions, emphasising that the National Assembly will not tolerate persistent neglect of its oversight role.
Observers noted that the confrontation highlights growing tensions between the executive and legislative arms over accountability in public agencies. It also underscores the Senate’s resolve to ensure that statutory bodies like the CAC operate transparently and remain answerable to elected representatives.
As the session ended, the fate of Hussain Ishaq Magaji hung in the balance, with the Senate poised to take further steps, including official communication to the President and potential enforcement measures to compel compliance. The outcome of this motion could set a significant precedent for legislative oversight of government agencies in Nigeria, reinforcing the principle that no public official is above parliamentary scrutiny.
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