The
Department of State Services has said the Acting Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has failed integrity test,
warning that he will hinder President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.
The
Senate had on Thursday rejected the nomination of Magu by Buhari as
the Chairman of the EFCC.
The
PUNCH, however,
sighted a copy of the “security report” by the DSS in which Magu’s activities
were alleged to have made him ineligible to hold the office
The letter, dated October 3, was addressed to the Clerk of
the Senate, in reference to a letter by the Senate, dated September 21, 2016,
asking for Magu’s security check.
The report, which listed several alleged malpractices against
the EFCC boss, said his confirmation would frustrate the anti-graft drive of
the Buhari-led administration.
Part of the allegations against Magu was his being in
possession of EFCC documents in his private residence during the chairmanship
of Farida Waziri.
The DSS also made reference to the circumstances surrounding
Magu’s arrest, detention and suspension by the Nigeria Police.
The secret service also alleged that the sum of N40m was paid
for the rented apartment, which costs N20m per annum, where the acting EFCC
chairman currently resides.
It added that the accommodation was not paid for from the
commission’s account but by a presidential appointee, who had been under
investigation.
The DSS alleged that after renting the apartment for Magu,
the friend awarded a N43m contract for the furnishing of the accommodation.
The appointee, who is a retired Air Commodore, was said to be
a close associate and ally of Magu, allegedly and “runs questionable business”
and was once arrested by the service.
The report, which cleared the other four EFCC appointees,
said Magu, flew a private jet owned by the retired military officer.
The service also claimed that the EFCC boss was once in the
same flight to Maiduguri with a Managing Director of one of the new generation
banks, who it alleged was under investigation.
It added that the bank chief had been linked with a former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The DSS stated that after the arrest of service chiefs by the
EFCC, including Badeh, Umar and Amosu, Magu’s ally, while under interrogation
by the service, had confessed that he didn’t want Amosu to be probed, the
reason why the EFCC arraigned Amosu after his friend’s interrogation.
The acting EFCC boss was also accused in the report of making
false allegations against individuals “for personal reasons.”
The report said, “The circumstances surrounding the return of
Magu to the EFCC and the role played by Lamorde and their close relationship
are clear indications of his culpability in the allegation of corruption
tendencies of the Lamorde-led EFCC.”
The DSS also alleged that “Magu uses only his police cronies
to execute operations,” adding that the fact that the cronies had acquired
landed properties “led credence to the questions about his integrity.”
The report added, “In this light, Magu has failed the
integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the
anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”
In rejecting Magu, the upper chamber of the National Assembly
had cited “security reports” as the reason for the rejection.
The screening had been listed on the Order Paper as part of
the activities at the chamber for the day.
The lawmakers were to conduct a confirmatory screening for
Magu and four members of the EFCC on their nomination.
The plan to conduct the confirmatory screening had allegedly
divided the senators.
It was reliably learnt that at the usual pre-session meeting
by the principal officers on Thursday, which held at the Senate President’s
office, the lawmakers engaged themselves in a shouting match.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs,
Senator Sabi Abdullahi, before the end of the closed-door session, announced
that the lawmakers had rejected Magu’s nomination and would not screen him.
Abdullahi, who read from a statement while addressing
journalists, said, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to
inform the general public that based on security reports available to the
Senate, the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as
the Executive Chairman of the EFCC.
“Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination
and has returned the said nomination to Mr. President for further action.”
In an attempt by journalists to ask Abdullahi questions,
especially on the reported power play involving Magu, individuals and the
Presidency and the Senate leadership, the Senator said, “There’s no confusion
here. We have said it is based on security reports. Please, all of us – public
officers – go for security screening. Everybody! And we are saying based on
security reports, we cannot proceed and confirm (Magu) and we are rejecting it
(the nomination) and returning it to Mr. President for further action. That is
just the statement.’’
The report, it was gathered, had been with Senate President
Bukola Saraki since October.
Saraki, who presided over the plenary, referred the other
nominees to the Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes for
screening.
Magu, who was appointed by the President as acting Chairman
of the EFCC in November, 2015, following the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde, has
remained in the acting capacity for over one year.
Apart from Magu, the confirmation of four members of the
commission was also delayed.
The affected appointees are Moses Nda Sule, Mamman Lawan,
Imam Najib Galadanchi and Adebayo Adeleke.
The letter for Magu’s confirmation was dated June 17, 2016,
and signed by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the acting
President while Buhari was in the United Kingdom on a 10-day medical vacation
Punch
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