Allegation over $300m Abacha Loot against Magu Baseless
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has raised the alarm
over the recent allegation against the Acting Chairman of the EFCC,
Ibrahim Magu by the United States, US Senate’s Chairman, Committee on
Finance, Charles E. Grassley on looted funds.
The Commission reiterated that it is at the forefront of the transparent
management of recovered funds and would not be dragged into any
controversy over an allegation that has no fact or any iota of proof.
The 86-year-old US Republican Senator had in a letter dated April 1,
2020, and addressed to the Chief Money Laundering and Asset Recovery
Section of the US Department of Justice, Deborah Connor, wrongly and
maliciously accused Magu of “detaining individuals who have spoken
against the Buhari government”.
The allegation clearly has no bearing with the operations of the EFCC
nor address the painstaking efforts of Magu in tackling the menace of
corruption, without fear or favour.
The EFCC is involved in the processes of repatriation of the looted
$300million by the former Head of State, the late Gen Sani Abacha and
quite aware of the tripartite agreement involving Nigeria, the United
States and Island of Jersey.
As an anti-graft agency, the Commission has credible records of managing
recovered funds and assets and it is rather unfortunate that the ranking
US Senator, in a desperate bid to frustrate the repatriation of the
funds, clearly embraced the well-worn antics of some unscrupulous
elements in the country, who never succeeded in blackmailing the
anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Even the harshest detractors of Mr. Magu know and always acknowledge his
firm and bold handling of the anti- corruption fight which continues to
earn him accolades within and outside Nigeria.
Only recently, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, gave an
Award of Excellence to Mr. Magu for his unique role in a joint field
operation codenamed, “Operation Rewired”. The operation yielded great
results internationally in tackling the menace of cyber-crime.
It is worrisome that a high-ranking US lawmaker of the status of
Grassley could not get his facts rightly nor establish a credible
premise of attacking an FBI- celebrated Magu. Would the FBI have come
out to acknowledge the effectiveness and credibility of the EFCC under
Magu’s watch, if such allegation of oppressing opposition to President
Buhari’s government had any merit?
Besides, only recently, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)
and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and an opposition PDP
politician, poured encomiums on Magu on the visible achievements of the
EFCC under his watch. According to Adoke, “President Muhammadu Buhari is
highly celebrated for fighting corruption and the poster boy of this
celebrated achievement is clearly Magu”
It would interest Sen Grassley to know that three former governors who
are ranking members of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, which
is President Buhari’s party, are currently serving jail terms for
corruption. Is the EFCC also persecuting members of the President’s
party?
Grassley evidently lacks any sound basis for linking the EFCC and Magu
with any oppressive or separatist agenda against government opposition.
Records of convictions of the Commission are in the public domain as
well as cases before the courts, which can be subjected to un-biased
analysis and scrutiny.
We wish to reiterate that the EFCC under Magu is too focused on the
anti- graft agenda of the government to be distracted by such empty
claims of the lawmaker. Grassley and his sponsors are clearly on
quicksand on this issue.
The Commission remains focused on its mandate against economic and
financial crimes and will not be deterred by spurious allegations from
individuals with hidden agenda.