As the controversy about the impropriety of the newly announced service chiefs rages on, Dr. Kayode Ajulo has said that the military chiefs are holding forth in acting capacity until senate confirmed them.
Ajulo, an Abuja based lawyer and political analyst however said the appointment were in order as the president only nominated them.
Besides, he argued that the president was yet to decorate them with the concomitant ranks, which shows that the president is within the conatitution on the announcement of the new service chiefs.
He said, “My attention has been duly drawn to the opinions and comments of some learned jurists and senior lawyers on the illegality or otherwise of the appointment of Service Chiefs by Mr President.
“With the greatest deference to such position, I am of the opinion and I stand to believe that though the office of Service Chiefs is one of several that have constitutional procedures and flavour subject to the confirmation of the National Assembly. However, such procedure is a continuum and at the moment, the ‘appointment’ cannot be tainted or tagged as illegal or unconstitutional.
“Mr President has only nominated but not adorned the Acting Service Chiefs with the concomitant ranks. Therefore thier appointment except that of the Chief of Defence Staff is inchoate and rudimentary until the confirmation by the National Assembly as provided by Section 18 of the Armed Forces Act.”
It will be recallled that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday announced the sack of the service chiefs and replaced them with Chiefs. Maj Gen Leo Irabor, CDS, Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM I.O Alao, Air Force.
The sack of the security chiefs was a big relief to many Nigerians who in the last three years have been calling for their sack following the worsen security situation in the country.
Besides, the security chiefs time were up as they were due for retire meant but had their stay extended on two occassions by the president.
