A mild drama unfolded in the Senate on Wednesday, December 3, as lawmakers clashed over whether President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (rtd), should be allowed to “take a bow and go” without undergoing any scrutiny during his confirmation hearing.
The “bow and go” courtesy is a long-standing parliamentary tradition extended to former federal lawmakers and select categories of nominees deemed qualified to bypass questioning before confirmation.
Tension rose shortly after Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East, moved a motion urging the upper chamber to grant the retired military chief the privilege in recognition of his service to the nation. Senator Musa said, “Given his distinguished service as Chief of Defence Staff, I move that he be allowed to take a bow and go.”
The proposal immediately drew strong objections from several lawmakers, who insisted that General Musa must undergo full screening in accordance with legislative standards. Their resistance sparked a heated exchange, with senators raising their voices and speaking over one another, prompting the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to intervene and restore order.
General Musa, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff until October 2025, was nominated by President Tinubu to serve as Minister of Defence following the resignation of former Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar.
The Senate is expected to continue deliberations as the confirmation process progresses.
