In another development, a new seven-page letter by the Department of Security Service (DSS)
which sheds more light on the corruption allegations against the
Acting-Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Ibrahim Magu has been released.
In the letter appeared to have been written in response to a request by
the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar
Malami, which called for documentary evidence of the allegations raised
by the DSS in its letters to the Senate, which stalled Magu’s
confirmation as substantive head of the anti-graft agency..
No fewer than 12 indicting documents attached as appendixes to the
response letter the DSS sent to Malami, through one Folashade Bello
acting on behalf of Director-General of DSS, pushed the relentless
campaign against Magu’s confirmation miles ahead.
One of the documents contained minutes of the 20th plenary meeting of
the Police Service Commission in 2010 which reportedly reprimanded
Magu.
The eleven other documents tried to link Magu to Mohammed Umar, a retired air commodore being investigated by the DSS.
The documents were, however, not released alongside the cover letter
discreetly circulated Friday but their contents were summarized in the
letter.
The letter, which was discreetly circulated to select Nigerian
journalists by a group known as Advocacy Justice, appeared to further
embarrass Magu and possibly pressure President Muhammadu Buhari to
remove him from his post
The letter was undated but marked ‘Classified.’
Read full text of the newly released DSS letter to the AGF…
======================
The Attorney General of Federation,
Federal Ministry of Justice,
Plot 7B, Shehu Shagari Way,
Abuja – FCT.
RE: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION
Your letter with reference number .HAGF/ DSS/ 2016/ VOL.I/ 7 dated 19th December, 2016 on the above subject, refers.
2. I am directed to forward the attached documents in respect of the
report earlier dispatched, by this Service to the Presidency on the
Acting Chair,,an of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
Ibrahim MAGU. They are marked annexures A to L and are highlighted as
follows:i. Annexure A – This is a copy of minutes of the 20th Plenary Meeting
of the Police Service Commission on 20th December, 2010, chaired by Mr.
Parry B. 0. OSAYANDE (DIG/ Rtd) who was then Chairman of the(
Commission. The minutes indicate that MAGU was indicted after a
disciplinary process and awarded Severe Reprimand for “Action
prejudicial to state security, Withholding of EFFC files, Sabotage,
Unauthorized removal of EFCC files and Acts unbecoming of a Police
Officer”. It is worthy to note here that Severe Reprimand is the second
highest punishment to be given to an erring officer, other than
compulsory retirement or dismissal from Service.ii. Annexure ‘B’ – This is a copy of the confessional statement of
Air Commodore Mohammmed UMAR (Rtd), a suspect hitherto detained and
currently being prosecuted by the Service. The statement affirms his
ownership of Valcour S.A Nigeria Limited, a company awarded the contract
of securing and furnishing an official residence for Ibrahim MAGU by
the FCTA. Investigation revealed that this was facilitated after MAGU
was earlier shown the residence by one Uche ALEKA, a close business
associate of UMAR, who was introduced to MAGU by the former.iii. Annexure ‘C’ – This is a forged Memo which supposedly originated
from the Office of the Vice President and addressed to Mr. President.
This was recovered from the private residence of U1VIAR during a search
operation by this Service. The document is a request for approval to
commence further investigation into financial activities of Honourable
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe KACHIKWU. Also attached
to the Memo are two (2) genuine investigation reports by EFCC on the
Honourable Minister, dated 24th March, 2016 & 13th April, 2016 and
duly signed by 1VIAGU. One of the two (2) attachments indicates that the
original investigation report earlier was purportedly received in the
VP’s office by one Folabo KAY.iv. Annexure ‘D’ – This is a letter from the Office of the Vice President affirming that Annexure “C” is a forged document.
v. Annexure E – This is a copy of Progress report with reference
number SH/ COS/ 24/ A/ 7277 dated 25th May, 2016 on NNPC/ NLG Brass
Investment Accounts in Nigerian Commercial Banks from Chief of Staff to
Mr. President, Abba KYARI to the Acting EFCC Chairman. The letter is an
official/ classified document of the EFCC which was duly received by the
Commission as indicated by the stamp on the document. However, it was
recovered at UMAR’s residence.vi. Annexure ‘F’ – These are photocopies of Managers’ cheques of
First Bank PLC and Zenith Bank PLC, issued in favour of EFCC Recovery
Funds Account on 13/ 05/2016 and 16/65/ 2016, respectively. These are
all sensitive official documents of the EFCC found in UMAR’s residence
during the search.vii. Annexure G A classified letter from the Office of the National
Security Adviser (ONSA) to the EFCC Chairman titled Re: Request to
Freeze Accounts Messers Bebey: Merchant Ltd and 20 others, dated 7th
March, 2016. This document was also duly received by EFCC but found in
Commodore U1VIAR’s house during the search.viii. Annexure ‘H’ – A document which emanated from Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and addressed to the EFCC Chairman on 6th
May, 2016 with the subject, Re: Stop Debit Order on all NNPC Accounts
and Subsidiaries- A case for Joint Venture & NNPC Pension Funds
Accounts. The document was recovered at UMAR’s residence.ix. Annexure I – NNPC Letter GED/ F86A/ 08.26 dated 5th May, 2016
addressed to the EFCC Chairman and titled Re: Stop Debit Order on all
NNPC Accounts and Subsidiaries. This was also discovered during the
search of UMAR’s residence.x. Annexure J – This is a copy of NNPC correspondence with reference
number GED/ F86A/ 08.26 dated May 5th, 2016 and titled Re: Stop Debit
Order on all NNPC Accounts and Subsidiaries- Transfer of FCT Balances to
NNPC’s TSA Accounts, addressed to the EFCC Chairman. The document was
found in UMAR’s residence.xi. Annexure ”K’ – A copy of an NNPC letter with reference number
GED/ F&A/ 08.26 dated May 5th, 2016 and titled Re: Stop Debit on all
NNPC Accounts and Subsidiaries- Critical Accounts for immediate
operations to the EFCC Chairman. The document was also recovered during
the search of UMAR’s house.xii. Annexure L – Copy of Confessional Statement by UMAR to the
Service stating that his trip to Maiduguri for condolence visit to
Ibrahim MAGU, sequel to the loss of a close relative, was made on behalf
of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Arms Purchase. Cross
examination of the Chairman of the Committee, AVM John ODE (Rtd)
revealed that the committee did not send any of its members on such an
assignment. The visit of UMAR to MAGU is therefore assessed as an
expression of their close sinister relationship at the detriment of
National Security interests.3. An officer appointed as Ag. Chairman of EFCC should by all means
be one of impeccable credentials, with proven integrity and capacity to
lead the nation’s fight against graft in high and low places. Thus far,
it is evident from MAGU’s antecedents that he is by no means that kind
ofofficer.
His relationship with Umar MOHAMMED which involved disclosure of very
sensitive and classified official documents in his possession shows
lack of professionalism and assails his integrity. Moreso, for an
officer who was indicted and nearly dismissed six (6) years ago, to
again be involved in similar circumstances, it is clear that MAGU is a
perennial offender and cannot change.4. Also worthy of note is the fact that MAGU exhibited a total lack
of judgment where it matters most. He accepted to move into a tastily
furnished accommodation without any scrutiny of how it was furnished.
This is curious and speaks volumes of his personality.5. The recovery of sensitive and classified documents from the
residence of UMAR further underlays his close affinity to MAGU and an
apparent penchant for sabotaging official processes and administrative
protocols, just to further the latter’s personal material and pecuniary
agenda. Such mutually beneficial relationships as with UMAR, who by his
confession, approaches ‘clients’ for possible exploitation, favours and
associated returns is unprecedented and very damning for an anti-graft
top official. It has exposed MAGU as a fraudulent officer and betrays
the high confidence reposed in him by Mr. President.6. A further demonstration of MAGU’s questionable credibility as an
untainted anti-corruption official is his failed bid to settle personal
scores with one Stanley Inye LAWSON b lacing him on Security Watch
Action. It was however discovered that LAWSON was actually working in
the interest of the Federal Government and the Action was subsequently
expunged.7. This reinforces the view that MAGU may continue to exploit his
official position, if confirmed as EFCC Chairman and indulge in other
unprofessional and criminal conducts for personal aggrandizement
contrary to his oath of office.8. Accept the assurances of the high consideration and esteem of the DGSS, please.
Folashade BELLO
For: Director-General, DSS