Exactly three months after they declined to confirm Ibrahim Magu as the
substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), The Senate yesterday affirmed their December 15, last year’s
position on the EFCC’s acting chairman. The Red Chamber relied on
three-paragraph memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) dated
March 14, affirming the Services’ earlier report on Magu. Below is the
Report:
In August 2008, following a search at his residence during the tenure of
Farida Waziri (AIG/rtd) as the commission’s chairman, some sensitive EFCC
documents which were not supposed to be at his disposal were discovered.
He was subsequently redeployed to the police after days of detention and
later suspended from the Force.
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
of the EFCC in 2011, he made the return of Magu to the EFCC a top
priority. Both men had worked together at the commission when Lamorde
served as Head of Operations of the agency. Magu remained a top official
of the commission until he was appointed to succeed Lamorde.
Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40 million, at N20
million per annum. This accommodation was not paid for from the
commission’s finances but by one Umar Mohammed (Air Commodore/rtd), a
questionable businessman and ally of subject who has subsequently been
arrested by this service. For the furnishing of the residence, Mohammed
enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to award a
contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed to
lavishly furnish the residence at the cost of N43 million.
Investigations show that the Acting EFCC chairman regularly embarks on
official and private trips through a private carrier, Easyjet, owned by
Mohammed. In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri, alongside Mohammed
and a third generation bank chief, who was being investigated by the
commission over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past
Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke.
Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high profile lifestyle.
This is exemplified by his preference for First Class air travels. On 24th
June, 2016, he flew Emirate Airlines’ First Class to Saudi Arabia to
perform the Lesser Hajj at the cost of N2, 990,196. This is in spite of
Mr. President’s directive to all public servants to fly Economy Class.
Investigation also revealed that Magu parades a twin personality. At one
level, he is the czar who has no friends, no favourites and is ready to
fight corruption to a standstill. However, with a key friend in the person
of Umar Mohammed (Air Commodore/rtd), a controversial businessman, he has
betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the present administration.
Whereas Magu portrays himself as very secretive, he has fostered a
mutually beneficial relationship with Mohammed who, by his confession,
approaches ‘clients’ for possible exploitation, favours and associated
returns. This was facilitated with official secrets divulged by Magu and
from which dealings he is believed to have been drawing considerable
benefits.
This was evidenced by the number of official and classified documents he
made available to his associates, especially Mohammed. After a search of
Mohammed’s premises, a forged letter of the Office of the Vice President,
dated 20th May, 2016, was recovered. The letter was a fictitious
investigation report from Vice President to Mr. President, requesting for
approval to commence further probe into a matter allegedly involving Hon.
Minister of State for Petroleum. Attached to the letter were two EFCC
letters dated 13th April, 2016, and another 24th March, 2016, addressed to
the vice president being investigation reports on the activities of
Emmanuel Kachikwu and his brother Dumebi Kachikwu. Similarly recovered
during the search were information on assets and personal details of
Kachikwu.
Also, following the arrest of three former Airforce chiefs by EFCC,
namely, Alex Badeh, Umar and Adesola Amosu from whom huge sums of money
and property were recovered, Umar and Badeh were arraigned in court. It
was only after the arrest of Mohammed by this service that the EFCC
hurriedly arraigned Amosu. Mohammed later confessed that he never wanted
Amosu tried, describing him as his former boss and he saw in Magu, a
willing accomplice.
Furthermore, findings revealed that in a bid to settle some personal
scores, subject placed one Stanley Inye Lawson on a Security Watch Action,
while in actual fact, Lawson was working in the interest of the Federal
Government. However, the action was later expunged following the discovery
that Lawson was falsely accused by Magu for personal reasons.
The circumstances surrounding Magu’s return to EFCC at the instance of the
former chairman, Lamorde, and their close working relationship ever since
is a clear indication of his culpability in the allegations of corrupt
tendencies of the Lamorde-led EFCC.
To cover his tracks, Magu uses only his police cronies to execute
operations. This, coupled with discoveries that such police cronies have
acquired a lot of landed property, lends credence to the questions about
his integrity.
In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will
eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the
present administration.