There are now more
details about the security report that prompted the senate to reject the
nomination of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In
the report, Magu is accused living in a N40million mansion paid for by
one Umar Mohammed, a retired air commodore who is allegedly involved in
shady deals.
“Investigation on the chairmanship of Magu revealed
that in August 2008 during the tenure of Farida Waziri as the
commission’s chairman, some sensitive documents which were not supposed
to be at the disposal of Magu were discovered in his house. He was
subsequently redeployed to the police after days of detention and later
suspended from the police force,” said the report.
“In December
2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action
prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage,
unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police
officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.
“Notwithstanding,
sequel to the appointment of Ibrahim Lamorde as chairman, he made the
return of Magu to the EFCC a top priority. Magu remained a top official
of the commission until he was appointed to succeed Lamorde.
“Magu
is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum.
This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances,
but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable
businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.
“For
the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital
Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company
owned by the same Mohammed to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.
“Investigations
show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and
private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.
“In one of
such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed and Nnamdi
Okonkwo, the MD of Fidelity Bank, who was being investigated by the EFCC
over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the Immediate past
petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“Furthermore, the
EFCC has so far maintained a high-profiled lifestyle. This is
exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels. On 24 June,
2016, he 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.
“Magu has
fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession
approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated
returns.”
However, in the report, the secret police cleared
members of the board of the anti-graft agency — Nasule Moses, Lawan
Maman, Garandaji Imam Naji and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu — of any
wrongdoing.
Usman Abusidiq, a blogger, had made the same
allegations for which the EFCC arrested him, keeping him in detention
for about 48 hours.
As of the time of filing this report, calls to Magu’s phone line did not go through.
Also, calls and a message to Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, for a reaction to the report, were not answered.
from www.thecable.com