Alleged Diversion Of Looted Funds: Malami Tightens Rope Round Magu’s Neck
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – In what appears a deft move aimed at ousting the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, has pointedly accused the anti-graft fighter of diverting recovered looted fund.
Malami has therefor recommended the removal of Magu from his exalted position of Acting chairman of the EFCC, a position he has held for over four years now.
In a memo the Attorney General of the Federation addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, he accused Magu of about 20 “serious misdemeanors” that included diversion of recovered looted fund, insubordination and misconduct.
A presidency source said on condition of anonymity that it would be difficult for Magu to survive the onslaught particularly now that his shield in the seat of power in the person of Late Abba Kyari is no ore there to defend him.
The source explained that previous plots to get Magu sacked failed because of the late Chief of Staff to the President but now that he is no more, it would be tough for the EFCC boss to scale the hurdle.
The office of the Attorney General of the Federation which is the supervising ministry of the EFCC, allo alleged that Magu has assigned unto himself the power to arrest, investigate, confiscate, dispose and determine who to allocate properties to without following laid down procedure.
It was further gathered that the memo has awaken the presidency to most of the illegal happenings at the EFCC that I almost becoming a law unto itself in such a way that it has assumed the authority to do and undo at will.
Malam’s memo is considered as deadly and does not seem to give Magu room to maneuver as his misdeeds were monitored and documented for a long period of time without his knowledge.
The AGF’s memo alleged that there are accounting gaps or discrepancies of tabulated figures with regards to recovered assets, stressing that the Acting EFCC Chairman was far from being transparent in the management of recovered assets.
Another source close to the EFCC said; “It is the documented series of misdemeanors that have now formed the legal opinion aimed at getting Magu out of the seat from where he reigned supreme at the agency for about five years now.
“In spite of the fact that the office of the AGF is the supervising ministry of the EFCC, Magu was before the death of late Abba Kyari bypassing the minister and reporting directly to the former Chief of Staff to the President thereby prevented scrutiny of his submission as was expected and in accordance with laid down rules and regulations.
“Worse still, the EFCC under Magu has not carried out any audit of its finances but quick at asking agencies of government to submit their accounts details to it.
“Without being told, Nigerians particularly Magu knows that the legal opinion of the AGF is very important in the running of the EFCC and his reappointment which cnnot be waved aside owing to its consequences.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had shortly before the screening of Ibrahim Magu for the position of the Chairman of the EFCC by the Senate wrote a damning report against him which the Upper chamber of the National Assembly used to reject his confirmation.
One of Magu’s fault lines according to the DSS was hinged on the fact that as a Deputy Commissioner of Police then, he was living in a N40million property in Abuja believed to have been paid for by a retired military, being fingered in some in sleazes.
The DSS Report to the Senate states in part; “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 with a bank MD 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 boss has so far maintained a high-profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels”.
As a result of the Report by the DSS, the 8th Senate led by Senator Bukola Saraki rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the EFCC.
He was however retained as Acting Chairman of the EFCC by the President Muhammadu Buhari.
