…Ex EFCC Boss faces 22 heavy corruption allegations
Despite various corruption allegations surrounding Ibrahim Magu (left) over the years, President Muhammadu Buhari (right) kept him in the job in an acting capacity for five years [EFCC]
Magu is facing various allegations of corruption especially in relation to assets recovered by the EFCC.
President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Ibrahim Magu as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Magu had been served an impromptu invitation on Monday, July 6, 2020, to appear before a Presidential Panel that reviews the agency’s activities.
His summon is believed to have been the result of a recent petition from the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who accused him of 22 weighty corruption allegations.
His suspension was approved by the president on Tuesday, July 7, according to a report by the BBC.
Magu was questioned for hours on Monday by an inter-agency committee led by a former Court of Appeal judge, Ayo Salami.
He was subsequently detained in custody and will be further questioned on Tuesday.
Magu has been the EFCC’s acting chairman since 2015, with his appointment rejected twice by the Senate due to a damaging DSS report about his unsuitability for the role.
The DSS report had accused him of sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files, and acts unbecoming of a police officer.
Security operatives search Magu’s house
Security operatives, on Tuesday evening, searched the Karu, Abuja, house of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
The search, a source told Nigeria Daily, was part of the investigation into the activities of the anti-corruption commission under Magu, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 9, 2015.
The embattled Magu was on Monday “arrested” by security operatives to face the presidential investigative panel, led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, retired Justice Ayo Salami, over some allegations levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, in a memo to President Buhari.
The Justice Salami-led panel, it was learnt, has representatives of the police, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), among others.
The memo raised by Malami has some damning allegations against Magu, who was alleged, among other allegations, of insubordination to the AGF, ‘relooting of recovered loots’ and Sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends.
After facing the panel on Monday, the embattled Magu was detained at the Force CID at Garki, Abuja, from where he went to face the panel against on Tuesday.
A source informed that the security operative went to the house with a search warrant and moved in to carry out the search.
EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached on his phone to comment on the latest development, while Magu’s PA on Media, Tony Amokeodo, neither picked nor responded to text message sent to his telephone line as of the time of filing this report.
Journalists Barred As Panel Grills Magu In Aso Rock
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is currently being grilled by a panel set up to investigate alleged infractions against him… Read Full Story
Magu’s security personnel reportedly squared up to the CID as tempers flared.
Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has been hit with scandals since 2015
There was a shouting match between security personnel and orderlies attached to the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, in Wuse, Abuja, before the anti-graft czar was driven to the nation’s presidential villa, sources say.
The EFCC has refuted reports that Magu was arrested on Monday, July 6, 2020. The Department of State Services (DSS) has also denied arresting Magu.
The EFCC also clarified that the embattled Magu “honoured an invitation by a presidential panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC, at the Banquet Hall wing of the presidential villa, Abuja.”
Nigeria Daily reports that Magu was arrested at the entrance of the Wuse II EFCC office by security agents believed to be operatives of the Police Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CID).
Nigeria Daily reports that the scene was anything but civil and pretty.
Stopping Magu’s convoy
Nigeria Daily quotes an eyewitness as saying that the EFCC boss’ convoy was stopped by armed security agents “but Magu’s security details challenged them.”
The incident led to a shouting match between armed operatives from both groups for several minutes.
“Magu and his convoy were driving to the EFCC’s office in Wuse II. Unknown to Magu, the security agents had laid siege around the entrance of the commission office. As his convoy tried to gain entrance to the EFCC’s building, the security agents blocked him with one of their vehicles.
EFCC officials on duty
“With the type of vehicle that was used, it was clear that they were not criminals but security agents. Magu’s escorts then came out to challenge the security agents. That led to some shouting match for several minutes. Magu then agreed that he would go with them.”
A security official told the newspaper that although “the security agencies came with two official vehicles, they allowed Magu to stay in his own car on conditions that one of the security agents sits with him.
“He was then driven away to the presidential panel afterwards.
“It was still Magu’s driver that drove the car (with Magu inside) with one officer, and one of the security agents that came to arrest him. The first security car that came for him was in front, the second was at the back of Magu’s car and his own convoy joined up to the presidential villa.”
There are reports that Magu was detained overnight.
The presidential panel grilling Magu is led by former Court of Appeal Judge, Ayo Salami.
Magu’s unending troubles
Appointed acting EFCC Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, Magu has had a running battle with the DSS and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami for quite some time.
In 2016, the DSS wrote a stinging report accusing Magu of living large in a N40 million mansion, flying in private jets and receiving kickbacks from persons he should be investigating for corruption.
Attorney General Abubakar Malami often accuses Magu of insubordination (Punch)
Malami recently sent a petition to President Buhari, accusing Magu of corruption.
Malami urged the president to sack Magu whom he accused of insubordination and diversion of assets recovered by the EFCC.
The AGF’s letter reportedly contained 22 weighty allegations that also included accounting gaps or discrepancies of figures concerning the recovered assets.
The Bukola Saraki-led 8th senate twice refused to confirm Magu following allegations of corruption, submitting that he lacks the integrity to lead the anti-corruption agency.
The presidency is yet to send Magu to the Ahmad Lawan-led 9th senate for confirmation.
Late Monday evening, it was reported that the Acting EFCC Chairman, Magu was been detained By Police In Abuja, To Be Returned To Aso Rock Villa For Further Interrogation. In the exclusive publication by SR,
he was thrown into a cell at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Area 10, Federal Capital Territory, shortly after being interrogated by an interagency panel inside Aso Rock Villa, Nigeria’s seat of power.
‘Allegations against Magu too weighty to be ignored’
A source at the presidency says the allegations against Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), cannot be ignored because they are weighty.
The source, who pleaded for anonymity because no one has been authorised to speak on the probe, told reporters on Tuesday that anyone occupying the position of Magu should not be suspected of being involved in any fraudulent activity.
Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had accused Magu of gross infractions.
The AGF had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu over some “weighty” allegations, including the diversion of recovered loot.
In addition to allegedly re-looting the recovered loot, Malami accused the acting EFCC chairman of insubordination and misconduct.
Security operatives whisked Magu to the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday and he was grilled by a panel set up to probe the anti-graft commission.
He was detained at the police headquarters overnight and the interrogation continued on Tuesday.
The source said the investigation of the EFCC boss reinforces Buhari’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
He said it shows that nobody in the Buhari administration is above scrutiny.
“The panel investigating allegations against acting EFCC Chairman had been sitting for some weeks now,” the source said.
“In consonance with the principle of fairness and justice, it was needful that the acting Chairman be given opportunity to respond to the allegations, which are weighty in nature.
“Under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, nobody is above scrutiny. Repeat: nobody. The investigation is to reinforce transparency and accountability, rather than to vitiate it.
“Accountability for our actions or inactions is inalienable part of democracy. In such elevated position as that of EFCC Chairman, the holder of the position must be above suspicion.
“There’s no prejudgment – absolutely none. The Buhari administration can be counted on to uphold fairness and justice at all times.”
Acting-efcc-chairman-magu-detained-police-abuja-be-returned-aso-rock-villa
Meanwhile in the past, despite official reactions denying these claims, Here are 7 allegations
1. Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum paid for by a questionable businessman
2. The EFCC boss furnished the residence at the cost of N43m & the contract was awarded to company owned by same questionable man
3.Magu constantly embarked on official n private trips in company of corrupt folks who are currently being investigated.
4. The EFCC boss flies first class or mosttimes private jets owned by the questionable businessman
5. On 24 June, 2016, Magu flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.
6. He allegedly transfers funds abroad through a third party.
7. Magu is found guilty of action prejudicial to state security, withholding of EFCC files, sabotage n unauthorised removal of EFCC files.
All these allegedly contained in the DSS report that has repeatedly made the senate decline approving him as the Substantial EFCC principal.