After Magu's INDICTMENT Report, DSS Clears Saraki In N310m Theft Allegation

Just as it reports that indicted the antigraft agency Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu that stalled his confirmation in the Senate, the Department of State Services (DSS) has cleared Senate President Bukola Saraki and members of the National Assembly over what it described as “malicious falsehood’’ being spread around by one of its dismissed officers, Abdulrasheed Maigari, who recently claimed that he and other security personnel, including an army captain, stole N310 million from the Senate President while guarding his house in Maitama, Abuja.

“The story making the rounds that the sum of N310 million belonging to the Senate President was stolen in 2015 is a malicious falsehood,’’ a senior officer of DSS stated last night in Abuja.

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“From our investigation, the money in question did not belong to the Senate President or any member of the National Assembly for that matter. The investigation conducted by the DSS and the confessional statement made by Abdulrasheed Maigari, a suspect in the case, did not support this claim at all,” he said, adding: “Maigari’s recent claim in the media is nothing but a made up story to achieve a hidden motive” he was quoted by ThisDay newspaper

He said the fact that Maigari, who is currently standing trial for an armed robbery case, could make up such a false claim was a further indication of how criminally minded he was.

Incidentally, the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Mr. Sanni Ologun, had on Sunday refuted reports linking his principal, Saraki, with the N310 million said to have been stolen from a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, by suspected operatives of the DSS and some army personnel in November 2015.

Ologun, had in a statement, said the reports were being rehashed by some online media to tarnish the image of Saraki.

Corroborating Saraki’s aide on Sunday, the senior officer of the secret security agency said it was because of the criminal behaviour of Maigari that the DSS dismissed him from the service in 2015 and subsequently charged him to court.

“Any attempt to link the Senate President or any member of the National Assembly with the stolen N310 million will be sheer blackmail and an outright mischief,” the senior DSS official who did not want his name mentioned insisted.

Maigari was recently arrested by combined operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team IRT and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit from the Abuja Police Command deployed to rescue the Chairman of Gateway Insurance, Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami.

The former DSS operative was arrested alongside the suspected gang leaders, Emeka Kelvin and Ndubuisi Prince Uzor, among others on the March 26, 2017 in Suleja, an outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory.

During their parade before newsmen by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Jimoh Moshood, at the Force Headquarters, Maigari revealed how he became a kidnapper and also told reporters how he stole N310 million from Saraki’s home in Abuja.

According to the ex-DSS personnel, “I was enlisted into the DSS in 2011 with the rank of a Senior Intelligence Officer 1.

“I served in operations department at Gombe and Osun Commands of the DSS before my dismissal in 2015.

“Before I was dismissed, I was posted to the home of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in Maitama and in November 2015, I can’t recall the exact date, three vehicles brought in the N310 million into the compound and the Army Captain who was on ground that day ordered that we should take the money away because he suspected the money was government money which could have been wrongly appropriated and could, therefore, be taken.

“We were four DSS operatives and four army officers involved and we drove the three cars to a house in Suleja where the money was shared. I got N30 million and I bought a car and took it to Kaduna State where I hid the rest of my share.’’

Maigari had said that he came back to Abuja, “but on November 28, 2015, I was asked to report at DSS headquarters and when I got there, I was interrogated over the theft and detained for five months, dismissed and charged to court”.

The suspect added that he was remanded in Kuje Prison, where he eventually fell ill after seven months and was later granted bail by the court on health grounds.

The Senate President’s Chief Press Secretary, Ologun, however, in a statement on Sunday, denied Maigari’s claims, recalling that the Senate President’s media office had refuted the report when it first broke that the Senate President had nothing to do with the money, nor did he have army personnel among his security detail.

He said: “We still insist that he has nothing to do with the money and we challenge those still rehashing the stale and fake news to avail themselves of the reports of the police and the DSS on the matter to avoid misleading members of the public unnecessarily.”

He said it was absurd for one of the suspects in a robbery to claim that the money he was found with was brought to the Senate President’s house from where they connived to steal it.

“The report remains a lie which must be disregarded by the public, and should it be recirculated tomorrow, it will still remain a lie. At best we count this unwarranted fake report as part of the April fool ritual. But the public deserves a better deal from its sponsors and purveyors,” he said.

According to Ologun, “The content and intention of the fake report is nothing but baseless allegations emanating from the infantile minds of unreasonable interlopers, hell bent on rubbing mud on the reputation of a distinguished Nigerian, who is today in his capacity as the Senate President, working assiduously with critical stakeholders to stabilise and grow our economy. Enough is enough.”

IDP N2.5B Fraud: Angry Buhari QUERIES SGF, Babachir

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has queried the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal over alleged fraud at the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE).

Daily Trust gathered that the AGF sent the query as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the SGF has already responded.

An official at the office of the SGF, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that “the SGF had replied the query. He attached some documents in his reply and was done before the expiration of time given to him by the query.”

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President Buhari had directed the AGF to query Babachir Lawal and the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over allegations of fraud levelled against them by the Senate.

Daily Trust also gathered that the AGF is presently reviewing the responses by Magu and the SGF.

The SGF ran into a storm of corruption allegations over the N2.5 billion Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE) contracts.

The Senate ad-hoc committee on mounting crisis of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North east had accused the SGF of several misdeeds including failing to account for N2.5 billion PINE funds and awarding contracts to his friends and cronies, some of whom turned around and paid kickbacks into his company’s accounts.

Interim report of the committee alleged that as of the time the contract was awarded in March 2016, Babachir Lawal was still the director of Global Vision and that he just resigned in September, and that it would provide evidence against Babachir to President Buhari.

The Senate resolved that he should resign and face prosecution.

Some workers told our correspondent that the SGF has not been attending to files as expected after his indictment by the Senate.

Yobe State government officials also said the PINE contracts, allegedly for clearing invasive grass species and building temporary IDP shelters, were not executed.

In his first reaction to the scandal Babachir told our reporter on telephone that: “I can recognise a vendetta and a witch hunt when I see one. So I am wondering if I should bother myself about it at all. You may wish to know that I was never invited to the hearing. So the Senate has an agenda best known to its leaders.”

He added: “Corruption is fighting to drag all good men down to its muddy, slimy level. Many of those calling for my resignation are very good customers of EFCC, ICPC and the Courts but are still sitting smugly in their Senate seats.”

Also speaking to reporters after attending an event at the Presidential Villa, Babachir said: “The Senate is talking balderdash. It has developed the habit of Bring Him Down syndrome. Nigerians have decided that we should destroy our best. We should all destroy the promising and best among us by bringing people down without a cause. This is just how I saw it.

“I have the report of the Senate Committee in which it was said that I didn’t resign from Rholavision Nigeria Limited. Let me tell you, Rholavision was formed by me in December 1990 and it has been a company that was run very successfully.

Daily Trust

Corruption Allegations: Senate Makes U-turn On SGF, EFCC Boss, Magu

The Daily Sun - The leadership of the Senate says the Red Chamber has neither indicted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, nor rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It said though Lawal was recommended for sack over the alleged fraud in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, the Senate was not giving a directive to the Executive, while on Magu, the Upper Chamber  only demanded some clarifications from President Muhammadu Buhari following a report received from the Department of State Services (DSS).

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Senate Leader Mohammed Ndume stated this yesterday while responding to questions from State House Correspondents on the position of the Senate after consultation with President Buhari.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, had on Sunday night said, in a statement, that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had been directed by the President to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing, assuring that no one liable will escape prosecution.

The Senate had last week, while deliberating on a report of the ad-hoc committee of the Senate on “mounting humanitarian crisis in the North-East”  allegedly indicted the SGF for  awarding a contract of N233 million to clear invasive plant species in Yobe State to Rholavision Nigeria Limited, a company which is allegedly linked to him.

The Senate, which considered the report of the Shehu Sani-led committee, had asked the President to suspend  Lawal and ensure his prosecution over alleged breach of laws in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE).

Senate President Bukola Saraki had last Thursday declared: “The world is watching President Muhammadu Buhari on how he would handle Wednesday’s resolution of the Senate calling for the sack of the SGF.”

But Ndume, speaking on the  Senate’s recommendation for the SGF’s sack, said: “It’s not an order we are giving. The Senate resolution is a recommendation; it’s not a law. What the Senate considered is work in progress because it was an interim report.

“It is the same public that is interested and worried to know what we have done as a Senate about those allegations. The committee issued an interim report and the interim report seemed to indict the SGF, the consequences of that indictment is what they recommended but we are not there yet because the report itself is interim. Okay, we take the interim report, we give the public until the whole investigation is concluded.

“I hear, coming from the SGF that he has not been given a fair hearing, so the hearing has not finished. We can give him time to go before the committee and clear himself.”

On the rejection of Magu, Ndume said: “No, no no. Let me say categorically that the Senate did not reject Ibrahim Magu as the chairman. What happened was that when we slated his confirmation for Thursday, then we had an issue or a letter from the Department of State Services (DSS) that could not allow us to continue with the confirmation without  further clarifications. So, we now concluded that since we have a letter that we cannot ignore, we cannot do the confirmation. So, it was not that we sat down to take a decision that we have rejected Ibrahim Magu. So, I want that to come out clearly.

“We specifically asked the chairman on media to issue a statement. What we said was that on that Thursday, the Senate could not go ahead with the confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu and that we are in possession of a letter from the Department of State Services which requires clarification from Mr. President, who is the head of the government. That was what happened.

“Even if the rejection is going to come, it is not going to come from the Senate because we have not done anything anyway.”

When reminded that the Senate spokesman, Aliyu Abdullai Sabi, said the Upper Chamber rejected Magu, Ndume said, “I hope we are not arguing. I listened and I still listened because of this controversy that can come out. I’m one of the persons that wrote the short press statement which states that the Senate cannot continue with the confirmation. It is different from saying that the Senate has rejected. In fact, we have referred the other four to the committee.”

The  Senate had declined to confirm the appointment of Magu as substantive chair of EFCC last Thursday, based on a security report forwarded to it by the DSS.

The Senate statement to this effect, issued by its spokesperson, Aliyu Abdullahi, had  said: “The Senate wishes to inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot proceed with the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The nomination of Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action.”

Asked the purpose of his visit to the Presidential Villa, the Senate Leader said: “Let me say that my meeting with Mr. President is not a new thing in that you have been seeing me here in and out for two reasons: One, I’m the Senate Leader, by the grace of God and, two; Gen. Buhari, the President, is one of my mentors and we have been relating since 2002. So, we normally come intermittently to compare notes on issues; so that’s my reason for coming here.”

The Minister of Justice, Malami, who was sighted at the Presidential Villa, however refused to speak with newsmen over the directives to investigate the allegations, when approached.

LEAKED: A Version Of DSS Reports Sent To Saraki, Buhari RECOMMENDs Magu To Be CONFIRMED As EFCC Chairman

Premium Times - The State Security Service (SSS) sent two different and contradictory security reports to the Nigerian Senate on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

While both reports stated that Mr. Magu had some “integrity issues”, they differed on the actions they suggest the upper chamber take on the confirmation of the EFCC boss.

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One of the reports suggested that clearing the anti-corruption fighter would spell danger for the administration’s anti-graft war.

The other described Mr. Magu as having performed excellently so far, and should therefore be favourably considered for the post of substantive chair of the EFCC.

Three senators told PREMIUM TIMES in separate interviews that the two reports were dated October 3, 2016, with one addressed to the acting clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, and the other to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.

The two reports were also signed by the same official, Folashade Bello, on behalf of the Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura.

The two documents were sent to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

The senators, who requested not to be named so they are not accused of divulging proceedings at a closed session, said both letters were read to lawmakers during the executive session held to decide the fate of Mr. Magu last Thursday.

“The two letters contain almost the same allegations against Magu,” one of the senators said. “But they are different in the recommendations made.

“While the report addressed to Ita Enang was dated August 25, 2016, the one to the acting clerk was dated September 21, 2016. But both were signed by the same Folashade Bello on behalf of Daura.”

Another Senator disclosed that in the letter written to Mr. Enang, the SSS stated that “although they found some adverse things in relation to Magu, he should be cleared given his excellent performance. They said he should be given the chance to run the commission.”

However, the senator said, the same SSS in the report addressed to the acting clerk about a month later asked the Senate not to confirm Mr. Magu.

“That other report concluded by saying Magu is integrity-challenged and will constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the Buhari administration,” he said. “We can’t understand why the SSS cannot get its act together to issue a single report and make the same recommendation.”

A third senator told PREMIUM TIMES the Senate decided not to confirm Mr. Magu because of the two contradictory reports.

“It is our position that given the two confusing reports, it is only the president that can decide whether he still wants the man to run the EFCC or not. The ball is in his court,” he said.

The spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, had told journalists on Thursday that the upper chamber decided against confirming Mr. Magu based on adverse security report from the SSS and that the Senate would write to the president intimating him of the decision.

Contacted on Monday for comments on the two contradictory reports the Senate received, Mr. Abdullahi said he would not join issue with anyone on the decision taken on the Magu affair.

“We have a moral, legal and constitutional duties to vet nominees, and that is what we did,” Mr. Abdullahi said. “Every necessary administrative actions were taken.

“What usually happen in every confirmation hearing was what took place. Whoever is not satisfied should explore other avenues to make his or her case. As far as we are concerned, we have done our job.”

In the reports, the SSS, among other allegations, accused Mr. Magu of benefitting from proceeds of fraud from an individual it (SSS) is prosecuting.

The agency alleged that the suspect, Umar Mohammed, who was a member of the presidential panel on arms procurement, paid the rent and furnished Mr. Magu’s official residence in the Maitama district of Abuja.

It also claimed that Mr. Magu used Mr. Mohammed’s private jets for trips outside Abuja.

A fact-check of the allegations by this newspaper indicates they were largely false.

The presidency said on Sunday that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to investigate allegations of corruption against Mr. Magu and other officials of his administration accused of corruption.

Buhari CONFUSED As 'Saints' In His Kitchen Cabinet Enmesh In High Profile Corrupt Practices

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be confused on how to handle reports of his kitchen cabinet members are enmeshed in some high profile corrupt practices.

After his inauguration in May 29th 2015, it took Buhari over six months to name his cabinet members, in a bid to ensure they are 'saints' and share his resolved to fight the corruption monsters to a standstill.

An Investigation by, Ripples Nigeria  suggests that once touted as closely knit, Buhari’s kitchen cabinet appears to be crumbling in the face of growing ego conflicts, mutual suspicion as well as mounting allegations of corruption among its members.

Exactly a week ago, June 22 to be exact, the nation’s media space was awash with stories of President Buhari’s meeting with hundreds of State House staff. The gathering which appeared routine has since become subject of intense speculations.

An early pointer to unease within the system was the quiet grumblings that greeted Jalal Arbi, the State House Permanent Secretary, when he told the expectant crowd that they had been assembled to bid President Buhari a warm welcome from his medical trip abroad.

Arbi was quoted as having said to Buhari, “This is the congregation of your children privileged to work in the Villa. We have gathered to welcome you and reassure you of our commitment to integrity, accountability and most importantly fear of God. We pray God to continue to strengthen you and give you peace of mind and tranquility to govern.”‎

No questions were entertained from the motley crowd once Mr President was done with his speech.

The show of solidarity and support, inside sources confided in Ripples Nigeria, were meant to conceal growing disenchantment and portray cohesion within and among the fractured leadership of the President’s closest aides.

Coincidentally, on the same day, news broke of a major conflict involving, perhaps, three of the closest members of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet. An ego war was reported to have pitched Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and Lawal Daura, DG, DSS against the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The bone of contention, inside sources claim, was Magu’s “intransigence” over attempts by Abba Kyari and the DG DSS to pervert investigations and cover up corruption allegedly perpetrated by Jide Omokore of Sahara Energy, a known ally of Diezani Allison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum who is now embroiled in corruption scandal.

The in-fighting within the ranks is said to have been accentuated with the orchestrated arrest and detention of Air Commodore Umar Muhammed, a member of the presidential panel investigating arms procurement. The arrest was on the orders of the DSS boss, a co-member of the same panel.

Sources say the exercise was meant to nail Magu, the EFCC Chairman, as Commodore Umar is alleged to have acted as a front for him in the massive looting of state resources. Interestingly, Magu who is also a member of the same panel has washed his hands off the allegation, apparently to save his skin.

Sources tell Ripples Nigeria that the quiet rumblings within the kitchen cabinet have not gone un-noticed, and that President Buhari is said to be chewing softly on the matter because of its sensitive nature, and his well-known stance against corruption.

“He does not want to betray any emotions or trigger an alarm”, our source said.

Already, Buhari is said to be at a loss on how to deal with the rumoured move by his Chief of staff, Abba Kyari, to stall Magu’s confirmation which is still pending.

President Buhari’s headaches have not been made lighter as he figures what to also make of the allegations of corrupt enrichment hanging on the neck of his Chief of Army staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who is largely seen as a poster boy for the administration.

After Fani-Kayode's Denial, Copy of EFCC Invitation Over N2.5b Fraud Surfaces; See Raw Copy

Earlier report as culled from the Nation newspaper suggested that former aviation minister and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan;s campaign media officer, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode allegedly went into hiding to evade arrest by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. A claim which has been refuted by FFK. 

Fani-Kayode subsequently denied seeing any formal invitation from the antigraft agency. He boasted that he was not scared to face the EFCC to prove his innocence.

News Punch has now obtained a the copy of EFCC invitation extended to the former minister

The letter was dated today 6th May 2016 and it was signed by one Mr. Mohammed Umar Abba on behalf of the Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. 

The letter of invitation was delivered to Fani-Kayode's Abuja home and he has responded promptly through his lawyers by assuring the EFCC that he would make himself available on Monday morning to assist in their investigations.