Why we’re probing Magu – Presidency

By Banji Ayoola

The presidency has again explained why it is probing the embattled acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu. It said the probe is to enable him clear himself of all allegations, many of which are very weighty.

This came just as a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, said that
former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, is unfit to chair the panel based on his alleged antecedents.

The presidency added that the investigation is an indication that nobody in the present administration is above the law.

A presidency source told State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday that the interrogation of the anti-graft boss reinforced the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

He also affirmed that the holder of an elevated office such as the chairman of the EFCC must be above suspicion.

Besides, he assured that the administration would not prejudge anyone as it could be counted on to uphold justice and fairness.

According to the source: “The panel investigating allegations against the acting EFCC chairman has been sitting for some weeks now.

“In consonance with the principle of fairness and justice, it was needful that the acting chairman be given an 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 inaction is an inalienable part of democracy.In such an elevated position as that of the 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.”

The source could, howev­er, not confirm whether Magu had indeed been suspended as widely reported on Tuesday.

While faulting the composition of the presidential panel probing Magu, George reportedly said that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

According to Daily Independent, George said Justice Salami, is unfit to chair the panel based on his antecedents.

George, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, also reportedly said that he would wait for the outcome of the investigation before mak­ing a statement on Magu’s travails.

Specifically, Magu is being probed over corruption allegations against him.

He was arrested on Monday by a combined team of Department of State Services (DSS) personnel and policemen at the Wuse II of­fice of the EFCC, and is now facing an interagency committee led by Justice Salami, which is investigating allegations against him.

He was detained at the FCID in Area 10, Abuja, on Monday night on the orders of the committee that also questioned him on Tuesday morning.

It was also gathered that Presiden Buhari ordered Magu’s suspension from office following recom­mendations from the Ayo Salami panel. Secretary to EFCC, Olanipekun Olu­koyede, will expectedly take over as act­ing chairman of the anti-graft agency.

While the committee asked him to step down pending the conclu­sion of the investigation, he allegedly remained adamant, prompting the panel to recommend his suspension to the presi­dent.

The panel continued its assignment on Tuesday.

Early findings on Tuesday, showed that Magu moved some of his belongings out of the headquarters of the commission.

Impeccable security sources said that the EFCC boss instructed his aides to move his belongings from the office on Tuesday morning while he was on his way to the presidency for the second day of his grilling..

The source disclosed that the aides came to the EFCC headquarters in two vehicles to pack some of his belong­ings while it was gathered that the aides may come again on Wednesday to pack what remains in the office.

State House correspon­dents, who observed some of the panel members arriving at the Banquet Hall, venue of the interrogation, by noon noticed some frenetic activ­ities in the premises about 1:33p.m.

A convoy of about four ve­hicles, which appeared to be conveying a VIP, drove into the premises, but it could not be immediately established whether Magu was the digni­tary being conveyed.

The convoy had a Peugeot sedan sandwiched by two Toyota Hilux vans occupied by several security personnel who apparently provided cov­er for the lead car.

After a brief vetting by the DSS officials at the gate, the convoy was waved on to join the panel meeting at the Ban­quet Hall.

Again, access was on Tues­day denied reporters by secu­rity details at the entrance to the area akin to what trans­pired on Monday when sitting began in earnest.

Meanwhile, it was gath­ered that Monday’s incident, which led to his arrest, was consequent upon the EFCC boss’ alleged reluc­tance to respond to the panel’s several invitations officially extended to him.

The panel was also accord­ing Magu due respect by let­ting him keep and have access to his phones, allowing him to go for prayers by himself, as well as serving him dinner while still being quizzed by members.

It was also learnt that while Magu had allegedly resisted attempts to get him into a car at the end of Monday’s sitting rather than the back of a pickup truck, which he opted for, he had also allegedly warned his handlers to remember that he was still a commissioner of police and must be treated as such.

Magu was once suspended in 2008 by a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro.

His suspension stemmed from allegations by former EFCC chairman, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mrs. Farida Waziri.

Waziri was said to have discovered on assumption of duty as acting chairman in May 2008, that case files of top Nigerians investigated by Magu during Nuhu Ribadu’s tenure were missing.

Ribadu was the first chair­man of the EFCC when the commission was set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ribadu was said to have de­ployed Magu to a section that handled high profile cases.

Mrs. Waziri, on discover­ing that some case files were missing, was said to have con­tacted Magu to surrender all case files in his custody as he had already been deployed out of the commission, after Ribadu was relieved of his appointment. He was said to have denied keeping official case files in his house.

His reported denial was said to have prompted Mrs. Waziri to order a raid of his residence where the files were recovered.

Consequently, the infuri­ated Waziri was said to have alerted late President Umar Yar’Adua of Magu’s act of alleged official misconduct and the recovery of the files.

The late president was said to have subsequently ordered the then IGP, Okiro, to interdict Magu.

The Police Service Com­mission in December 2010 found him guilty of action prejudicial to state security, withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised re­moval of EFCC files – acts unbecoming of a police offi­cer – and awarded him severe reprimand.

Okiro confirmed to Daily Independent on the phone on Tuesday that he remem­bered “Magu was suspended because of files”.

He added: “When an offi­cer is suspended, there is no time frame until his case is decided.”

However, Magu was re­instated into the police after about four years.

His reinstatement was said to have been facilitat­ed by one of the former police inspectors general and the immediate past chairman of the EFCC during President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.