Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed
\n“concerns about reports that the apparently arbitrary arrest of the
\nacting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
\nIbrahim Magu, maybe ‘the outcome of power-play’ at the highest levels of
\ngovernment.”<\/p>\n
Mr Magu is reportedly still being detained in police custody on the
\norders of a presidential panel probing alleged infractions against him.<\/p>\n
A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption
\n(PACAC) has reportedly stated that Magu’s arrest may be due to “an
\noutcome of power-play by power blocs in the corridors of power that is
\nnot really interested in, or in support of, President Muhammadu Buhari’s
\nanti-corruption fight.”<\/p>\n
In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the
\norganisation said: “The reported statement by a member of PACAC seems to
\nsuggest that Magu’s arrest may be politically motivated and aim to
\nundermine the independence and freedom of action of the EFCC. If true,
\nthis would make a mockery of Buhari’s oft-repeated commitment to fight
\ngrand corruption and the impunity of perpetrators, which is fuelling
\nwidespread and systemic corruption in the country.”<\/p>\n
The statement, read in part: “SERAP urges the authorities to afford Magu
\nhis constitutionally and internationally guaranteed fair trial rights.
\nMagu must either be charged with a recognizable criminal offence or
\nreleased immediately and allowed to do his job without fear of
\nreprisals.”<\/p>\n
“Nigerian authorities cannot continue to keep Magu in detention under
\nsuspicious circumstances without bringing any legitimate charges against
\nhim in violation of national and international law.”<\/p>\n
“Nigerian authorities must support the independence and freedom of
\naction of anti-corruption agencies and institutions if they are to be
\nable to genuinely fight grand corruption, which has for many years
\nturned public service for many into a kind of criminal enterprise.”<\/p>\n
“Nigerian authorities should focus on addressing the impact of
\ncorruption such as political violence, and denial of access for millions
\nof Nigerians to even the most basic health and education services, as
\nwell as other patterns of human rights violations.”<\/p>\n
“Improving the independence of anti-corruption agencies and institutions
\nis the most promising way to make tangible progress in the fight against
\ncorruption now and in the near future.”<\/p>\n
“Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
\nRights and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
\nto which Nigeria is a state party guarantee to everyone the right to
\nliberty and security of person, and that no one should be subjected to
\narbitrary arrest or detention.”<\/p>\n
“Similarly, Section 35(1) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as
\namended) guarantees to every person the right to personal liberty and
\nthat no person should be arbitrarily deprived of such liberty.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed “concerns about reports that the apparently arbitrary arrest of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\n