The Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) has released its own report on how Ibrahim Magu headed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before being suspended as the agency’s acting chairman.
Magu who was accused of being unable to account for 332 out of the 836 recovered real estate property in March 2018, was also accused of turning the EFCC into a “glorified police station” for alleged selfish motives.
The panel which was set up by President Buhari to look into the activities of the EFCC under Magu, alleged that he seconded police officers to EFCC officials in spite of the massive recruitment of police officers, carried out by the commission in recent years.
The report partly read “The blatant display of arrogance and acquisition of illicit wealth has turned the EFCC into a glorified police station.
“Despite massive recruitment of officers and men in recent years by the (suspended) acting chairman at the EFCC, he is still seconding police officers to the EFCC because he is comfortable with his fellow officers to carry out his illicit activities.
“He does not have any exit strategy for the police even though the EFCC officers are more experienced in the investigation of economic and financial crimes.”
The properties alleged to have been illegally acquired as well as the bank accounts of those individuals serving as fronts for Magu were also published in the report.
Lawyers to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have written to the Inspector General of Police asking for a full investigation into allegations made by an online journalist Jackson Ude from Point-Blank news who on the 8th of July 2020 wrote an article alleging that the vice president had received 4 billion naira from the embattled EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu.
According to the article, the money was part of a 39 billion naira loot by Mr Magu.
The blogger is also said to have alleged that the embattled EFCC chair is begging for a soft landing from the presidential panel because of this.
The letter written by the chambers of Bayo Osipitan and Co dated 8th July 2020 describes the allegations as vicious and malicious meant to portray the vice president as a dishonest and disloyal public officer unfit for the office of the vice president.
Embattled acting boss of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu is said o have spent four days in police custody.
The letter called for a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Jackson Ude, noting that if those claims are found to be false, then criminal proceedings for criminal defamation should be brought against Jackson Ude.
Osinbajo’s call comes on the heels of an ongoing probe into the operations of Ibrahim Magu as acting boss of the EFCC.
Magu, who is believed to have been removed from office is spending a fourth day in the custody of the Nigeria Police.
This comes as the presidential panel continues its investigation into the activities of the commission under the leadership of Magu.
The panel is reported to have extended its probe to properties alleged to have been acquired by Magu in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On Tuesday night, a team of security officials reportedly searched his homes in Abuja and were reported to have left with some documents, although it was not confirmed if anything incriminating was found during the search.
The investigation of Magu followed the allegations of misconduct levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. 📹: @channelstelevision
This was disclosed today 6th of July by the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba. The examination which was earlier scheduled for April this year, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has been arrested by the Department of State Services.
He was arrested over allegations that he owns four properties and that he was allegedly transferring funds abroad through a third party.
He was arrested at the Wuse II office of the DSS on Monday afternoon and is now undergoing interrogation at the DSS Headquarters In Aso Drive. The DSS in a 2016 report revealed that accused of living in a N40m mansion paid for by one Umar Mohammed, a retired air commodore who is allegedly involved in shady deals.
“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.
“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. On 24 June, 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.
“Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns,” the DSS report said. Magu is yet to be confirmed as the substantive chairman of the EFCC despite occupying the position in acting capacity for many years.
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