Ex- Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly [DCNA], Mr Ben Efeturi, is dead.
A family source revealed that Eferuri died on Wednesday morning in Abuja at about 2a:m.
He was said to have battled prostrate cancer for some years until he succumbed Wednesday morning.
His remains, as learnt, have been deposited in a morgue.
Before he retired as DCNA, he had made a move to become the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA.
The move was upended by higher forces in the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC).
The NASC appointed Sani Omolori, who was Clerk to House of Representatives instead to succeed Salisu Maikasuwa who voluntarily retired in 2016, months ahead of his retirement date.
Recall the media reports about the climax of the tussle over who would become the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly then.
A report had said that the tussle had finally been laid to rest with the outgoing Clerk, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, reaffirming the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the incumbent Clerk of the House of Representatives, as the incoming Clerk.
Maikasua, in memo dated May 12, 2016, named Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk in his absence.
It could be recalled that the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Dr. Adamu Fika, in a letter dated April 20, 2016, appointed Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly from May 14, 2016 to August 14, 2016..
However, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in his response to the appointment of Sani-Omolori, told Fika, through his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu, that he was not in support of the appointment of Omolori.
Saraki rather pushed for the appointment of the incumbent Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Ben Efeturi.
Saraki, in the letter, directed Fika to withdraw Sani-Omolori’s appointment letter forthwith and issue a fresh one for Efeturi on the grounds of seniority.
This was however not complied with by Fika, who, in another letter to Saraki, dated April 26, 2016, explained the circumstances that led to Sani-Omolori’s appointment as against Efeturi’s.
But the circular issued on Thursday by the outgoing CNA, appeared to have finally laid the issue to rest as the Outgoing clerk specifically stated that Sani-Omolori, as earlier appointed by Fika, would act in his absence.
Maikasuwa, in the circular entitled: “Commencement of Terminal Leave,” said: “I am proceeding on my terminal leave from 14th May, 2016 to 14th August 2016.
“During my absence, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohamned A Sani-Omolori, will perform my duties, please.”