Malami’s allegations: Rights’ Centre wants Magu steps aside, investigated

Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The Center for Human and Socio-economic Rights ((CHSR), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has called on the Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari to set up a transparent panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations leveled against the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN.
In a press release signed by the National president of the centre, Comrade Alex Omotehinse and the National secretary, Comrade Agbedina Omokehinde and made available to journalist on Sunday June 21, 2020, the centre urged President Buhari to expedite action on setting up of the panel of inquiry to urgently investigate Mr. Magu and immediately make their recommendation known to the public.

Malami had recommended in a memo to President Buhari on Thursday that Magu should be removed as the acting Chairman of EFCC over several allegations among which are diversion of recovered loots and insubordination.
This is coming barely four days after the right centre (CHSR) has raised alarm at a press briefing in Lagos over the activities of the anti-graft agency under Magu, saying the commission is not obeying the rule of law. The centre also said at the briefing that the agency is drifting from its primary assignment and becoming a political tool against perceived enemies.
Following the Malami recommendation, the centre is calling on President Buhari to take action.
The centre press release reads in part: “The attention of CHSR has been drawn to the weighty allegations leveled against the acting Chairman, economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN.
“It was widely reported that “in a memorandum sent to the President by the Attorney General of the Federation on Thursday that the AGF made some recommendations anchor on several grounds raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordinations and gross misconduct by Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
“It was reported that despite the weight of the AGF allegations against Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the presidency has declined to set up a probe panel that will look into the veracity of the allegations and make appropriate recommendation.
“Although we are aware that Mr. Magu has survived several and previous allegations because of his loyalty to the presidency, but this recent disturbing revelations exposed by the AGF via his letter to the President that has been reported to have contained about 22 weighty allegations that requires President Buhari decision on whether or not to send Magu’s name to the senate for confirmation or replacement.
“The Attorney General has alleged accounting gap or discrepancies of figures concerning the recovered assets. Iit was also reported that the AGF states that Mr. Ibrahim Magu was not transparent enough and also accused Magu of blatant display of arrogance and insubordination to him as the supervising Minister of the EFCC.
“The EFCC acting Chairman Mr. Ibrahim Magu was also accused of singlehandedly selling most of the recovered assets without the knowledge of anyone.
“Mr. Ibrahim Magu whom the President appointed as the acting Chairman of the EFCC since November 9th 2015, and remember that the 8th Senate rejected Magu’s confirmation as a substantive Chairman of the EFCC twice, which is prompting him to remain the INTERIM head of the anti-graft agency till date.
“However, when the presidency insisted on Magu being confirmed, the 8th Senate demanded for the reversal of a damning security report on the EFCC from the DSS in which the Senate then had cited as the reason for Magu’s non confirmation.
“Several groups and individuals has on so many occasions raised their concerns and fears and had challenged the continue stay of Magu as the acting Chairman of the EFCC.
“Based on this reported compelling and weighty allegations from the office of the number one law officer of the country and same as the Attorney General of the Federation; who is also the Supervising Minister of the EFCC; the non-reversal of a security report on EFCC, and coupled with the fact that there have been agitations against same person.
“we hereby demand that Mr. Ibrahim Magu step aside with immediate effect as the Chairman of the anti-graft agency to give way for an independent and impartial investigation on the allegation against him by the AGF while we also call for a transparent panel of enquiry to be set up by Mr. President Mohammadu Buhari to investigate this weighty allegation and make their recommendation known to the public”, the Right Centre demanded.