PSC Promotes Ex-EFCC Boss, CP Magu To AIG Ahead Retirement
In what appears as soft landing and retirement benefits, the Police Service Commission is believed to have concluded plans to promote the former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Commissioner of Police (CP), Ibrahim Magu to the exalted rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
Magu, who is due to formally retire from the Police Force on May 5, 2022, has reportedly tendered his pre-retirement notice. .
A report by the PUNCH newspaper indicated the PSC Standing Committee had recommended him for elevation to AIG, a development that is likely to set the commission on a collision course with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
It was gathered that the decision to promote Magu, who is presently the most senior Commissioner of Police, followed the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba.
Magu’s ordeal began in July 2020 when he was suspended from office as Acting chairman of the EFCC by President Muhammadu Buhari following allegations against him by Malami and was consequently mad to appear before a presidential panel headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (retd) which probed him for alleged graft and insubordination.
The PSC in a stamen by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani in July 2021, said that the Commission declined to promote Magu during the promotion of 24 CPs and other officers until he was given clearance from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Inspector- General of Police.
The commissioner representing the media in the PSC, Mr Austin Braimoh, had also said the ex-EFCC boss might not get his retirement benefits until he was cleared of the allegations levelled against him by the AGF.
But a senior official said there was no pending disciplinary case against Magu before the commission.
It further said; “Though the government set up a panel, they didn’t even inform the Commission. And Magu has been the most senior commissioner of police for a very long time and we have been stepping down his promotion.
“The AGF should have written to the Commission about the case against him. The IG has been sending his name for promotion, so why shouldn’t we promote him? Already, the standing committee of the commission has already recommended him for promotion to AIG. Though he is about to retire from service, he can still be promoted after retirement.”
When asked about the planned promotion, Braimoh said he was not aware of the latest decision regarding Magu’s elevation but confirmed that there was no indictment against him.
According to Braimoh; “I’m not aware that Magu has been recommended for promotion but the fact is that there is nothing before the Commission indicting Magu. He is still a policeman and he is in the force receiving his salary. There is no report to the Commission that this man is indicted or that he has a case or pending disciplinary matter.
“I have not seen a report that he is undergoing investigation. For any police officer that has a pending disciplinary matter; the police authorities will never send his name or recommend him for promotion. So, once a recommendation comes from the IG for promotion, it means that the officer has no pending disciplinary matter.
“So, if there is a recommendation from the IG, there is no reason we should deny him promotion; he can take us to court. If he is due and there is a recommendation, it means there is no PDM, we will promote him.”
(The Punch)
