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The Many Corrupt 'Cabals' Who Plotted Magu's Fall ...The Paris Club Loan Fraudster-Govs, Saraki, Akpabio & Wives' Fraud Cases, Many Others

Ibrahim Magu’s confirmation for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman has rejected again yesterday – no thanks to some governors, senators and high-profile suspects. Magu’s confirmation was first rejected on December 15, 201...

Magu's Ides Of March, By Goke Butika

"Sanity is very rare; every man almost, and every woman, has a dash of madness"-Ralph Waldo Emerson. For nine weeks that I stayed in United States, between last year and early this year, the glaring differences between the country and my count...

BREAKING: Again, Magu Fails Senate Test, REJECTED As EFCC Chairman

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Wednesday, refused to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). President Muhammadu Buhari had late last year submitted the name of Mr. Ma...

EXPOSED: Man Recommended By SSS As Working For Buhari Govt. Actually A Major Diezani Ally Who Helped Her 'Stole' $118m

Premium Times - A man the State Security Service said was working for the interest of the Nigerian government was actually a money laundering suspect named in the mismanagement of about $118 million public funds, an investigation by the Economic ...

Magu: President Buhari Should not Take Nigerians for Granted - ASJA

The Advocates for Social Justice for All, ASJA has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his decision on the recent sending of the name of Ibrahim magu back to the Senate for confirmation as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Cr...

7 Governors Implicated in Anti-Magu Plot; You'll Be Shocked At Their Secret Plots, Involvement

The Nation - Seven state governors are believed to have been part of the plot to stop the Senate confirmation of  Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Nation can now reveal. Three of the...

EXPOSED: The Gang That Actually Frustrated Magu's Confirmation ...The Shady Oil Deal; Diezani, Omokore Connections

TheNiche - A long list of actors at the presidency and Senate crippled the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 14, 2016.   Leading the pack is President Muhammadu Buh...

At Last, FG Queries Accused EFCC Boss, Magu, Begins Probe

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has begun investigations into various allegations against some top Federal Government officials as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday. Our corre...


Showing posts with label Ibrahim Magu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ibrahim Magu. Show all posts

The Many Corrupt 'Cabals' Who Plotted Magu's Fall ...The Paris Club Loan Fraudster-Govs, Saraki, Akpabio & Wives' Fraud Cases, Many Others

Ibrahim Magu
Ibrahim Magu’s confirmation for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman has rejected again yesterday – no thanks to some governors, senators and high-profile suspects.

Magu’s confirmation was first rejected on December 15, 2016.

The governors were said to have been angry with Magu over the ongoing probe of the alleged diversion of N19 billion from the London-Paris Club loan refund.


Besides, some senators resolved to save their colleagues following Magu’s refusal to make a commitment that he will “find solutions” to the ongoing investigation and trial of 10 members of the Upper Chamber.

Some of the 10 senators, led by a former governor from the Northeast, specifically demanded the termination of their trial during a meeting with Magu.

The Acting EFCC chairman, however, insisted that the law must take its course, a source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, told The Nation.

Some high profile suspects were said to have wielded influence to frustrate Magu’s confirmation “to pay him back in his own coin”.

According to the source, Magu’s rejection was the product of “conspiracy of aggrieved forces”.

It was learnt that the N19billion  was deducted from the N388.304billion, which was part of the N522.74 billion released to 35 states as refund of over-deductions on the London-Paris Club loans.

Following protests by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of the first tranche to states as refund pending a reconciliation of records.

Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

But EFCC through intelligence intercepted how N19billion was diverted to Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) accounts and some private accounts.

A source said: “All attempts to prevail on Magu to halt the investigation failed and the governors have no choice than to engage in lobbying to truncate the confirmation.

“Although a governor from the Northeast did his best to persuade his colleagues to spare Magu, some of the governors vowed not to take the risk.

“At a point, the governors sent emissaries to the Acting EFCC chairman, including some government officials, but he did not shift ground.

“The position of the governors was that the Presidency was in the picture of the deductions from the loan refunds but the EFCC’s probe was seen as an embarrassment to them.

“Before Magu goes after them, they decided to cut him to size. These governors found willing partners in some National Assembly leaders who were implicated in the loan refund.”

One of the emissaries sent by the governors to Magu was quoted as saying: “This chap almost secured confirmation but he bungled it by probing the loan refund.

“Each time a commitment was secured from him, the more he has been intensifying investigation of the N19billion. We told him it was a sensitive case.”

“A businessman reportedly interceded for Magu, urging the Senate leadership to confirm him. But the businessman later discovered that EFCC was investigating him in connection with the loan refund, The Nation learnt.

“So, the governors refused to spare any efforts to lobby their senators to reject Magu. And don’t forget that most of these governors are godfathers of many senators. Again, 2019 is around the corner, no senator wants to take a bet on Magu and lose the opportunity of returning to the Red Chamber in the next general election,” the source said.

Most of the senators were displeased that the EFCC was either investigating or putting more than 10 of their colleagues on trial.

A highly-placed source said: “The Senate has had its grudges against Magu since the invitation of the wife of the President of the Senate for interrogation. The senators saw it as a desecration of the chamber.

“Despite the fact that the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has purportedly forgiven Magu, the questioning of his wife has been a lingering memory. There are always fears that Magu could be more drastic in his action if confirmed.

”And the fears came to fore during the lobbying for confirmation when the Acting EFCC chairman refused to yield ground.  Magu and a few others met with some of the Senators, led by a former governor from the Northeast, who demanded to know what EFCC will do on their cases.”

Magu was said to have told the lawmakers that the law will take its course.

He was quoted as saying: “I cannot find solutions to these cases.”

Since that day, the hurdles against his confirmation became higher.

“The list of those who met Magu where the request was tabled is an open secret,” the source said.

He went on: “The PDP senators did not mince words that the Acting EFCC chairman will not be confirmed because of alleged tilting of investigation towards opposition leaders. The ongoing subtle probe of the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio and his wife by the EFCC was considered as an affront after Magu had lobbied the PDP Caucus.

“Although two of the PDP senators met with Magu on Tuesday to assure him of likely clearance but the game plan changed overnight when the caucus took a position against Magu.”

Another source fingered some high profile suspects of the EFCC, including some bank chiefs, as those behind Magu’s travails.

The source added: “The Acting EFCC chairman stepped on toes of these high-profile suspects, who in cahoots with their associates and sympathisers, lobbied senators to halt what one of them described as ‘Magu’s hurricane’. These suspects have the wherewithal to fight Magu to a standstill.

“The problem with Magu is that he has no godfather to fight his cause. And Senate politics is about influence wielding, building contacts and high-wire relationship.

“There were rumours that some suspects budgeted about N2.2billion to stop Magu’s confirmation. The EFCC stumbled on this information but it was yet to trace any transaction linked to the slush budget. The agency was suspecting under-the-table vote.”

Also yesterday, it was learnt that “the crisis of confidence within the kitchen cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari” affected Magu’s confirmation.

A source in government said: “Magu has limited contacts in government. His sympathisers are President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the President’s wife, Hajiya Aisha Buhari,  the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno and the Chairman of PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, among others.

“Unfortunately, the NSA who recommended him for the job is facing challenges with some members of the kitchen cabinet who see Magu as doing the bidding of his benefactor.

Asked of the role of the Department of State Services (DSS), the source said: “I think the service was uncomfortable with lack of inter-agency cooperation between it and the EFCC.

“There was a time the DSS advised Magu to stay action on an operation in the Southsouth, but the EFCC went ahead. It led to mutual suspicion.

“The closeness of Magu to the NSA, who had issues with DSS,  aggravated the proxy war, which resulted in two damning reports against Magu. The Acting EFCC chairman is a victim of power play  in the kitchen cabinet.”

Magu's Ides Of March, By Goke Butika

"Sanity is very rare; every man almost, and every woman, has a dash of madness"-Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ibrahim Magu
For nine weeks that I stayed in United States, between last year and early this year, the glaring differences between the country and my country, Nigeria are of two qualities: discipline and strict adherence to rule of law. Through the textures of the two, the former is able to bequeath an organized society, where almost everyone is equal, while the privileged know their  limit; the  latter seems to be deficient of the two qualities, and the society appears lawless, the privileged ride roughshod on the hapless masses, and the systemic chaos prevails.

Assistance Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Magu, the Czar of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) would never forget "ides of March" not even in a hurry. Maybe he reads, I do not know, because it is commonplace that Nigerian leaders detest books, rather they enjoy flashy cars and company of bare literate ladies of easy virtue, and that does not remove the so called "men of God" from the endemic, and if you argue, gist me on why Apostle was alleged to have sent nude pictures to Jezebel who confessed to have been pampered with money in different currencies.  But if Magu had read the book of Shakespeare on Julius Caesar, ides of March or 15th of March would have been figured out by  him.


Caesar's wife who symbolizes moral figure in play had a nightmare that her husband, Caesar was slain at the senate of Rome by his closest allies, and she pleaded with the great Caesar to shelve his meeting with the Senators, but Caesar's ego was towering above the hill of pride; he could not present the picture of a coward. So, he was adamant in going to the senate, and exactly on the 15th of March, Caesar began to acknowledge the hail of the crowd on his way to the senate. Meanwhile, a blind soothsayer who symbolizes the conscience of a nation shouted within the thick of the crowd-"Caesar, beware the ides of March!" and Caesar replied, "but today is the ides of March".

The soothsayer responded-"it has come, but it hasn't gone". Truly, Caesar was slain by his closest allies in the senate, and when he faced Brutus, his closest friend and said, "a friend should bear a friend infirmities, Brutus, why are you making mine greater", he was  answered with another sword. Today, is the ides of March at the Nigerian Senate where Magu, the man who placed his life on the line to fight corruption and retrieve monies and properties corruptly acquired by the friends and allies of our senators, was slain with refusal of his confirmation.

However, I would have been surprised if Magu is confirmed, because it would have been easier for the harlot to be mistaken for a virgin than having him confirmed, for Magu had initially invited the wife of the Senate President, Toyin for questioning on some suspected fraudulent transactions; the Senate President himself is an accused at the Code of Conduct Tribunal; some of the former governors who retired to the senate knew Magu is watching them suspiciously, and some of the Senators who had abused their offices on constituency projects knew Magu was only bidding his time. So, majority of the Senators are palpitating with mortal fear about the person of Magu. They knew he was the person in the costume of Ribadu's masquerade, and they knew he is a serious minded anti-corruption crusade.

Just the way the Roman Senate came up with the narrative of over ambition of Caesar, having been honored with the title, Dictator of Rome, Nigerian Senate held onto security report of State Security Service (SSS) which obviously has an axe to grind with Magu, based on the crave for relevance; they insisted on chasing out the man who has recovered highest looted funds in the history of the EFCC, and the nation; even when the Minister of Justice recommended Magu in line with the dictate of the President.

Watching the proceeding where Magu was slain, one would be marveled at the energies the senators dissipated on rejection of Magu, when a Judge was practically weeping in Lagos  on the way and manner Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been poisoning Nigerians through benzoic acid which made United Kingdom to destroy coke, sprite and fanta worth of 12 million naira,exported by a citizen Fijabi.  If it were to be a sane clime, the Senate ought to have debated it fiercely and move a motion for national mourning day. But, Magu, the "kukulaja" of corrupt politicians and unscrupulous business men matters, and must be quickly slain.

I read that the quantity of poisonous acid in the soft drinks giving to Nigerians is a guarantee for cancer, and cancer is a terminal disease. Therefore, common people who celebrate wedding or child christening, funeral or graduation, festivals or religious engagement with soft drinks from the bottling company are setup for early graves. In fact, the company's counsel argued that the complainant did not inform them that the stock would be taken abroad, and that brought tears to the face of the judge who lamented corruption of NAFDAC, but the Senate is less concerned, because Magu, the anti-corruption Czar must be slain. What a country!

It is a pity that Nigeria is in short supply of people of integrity, and the nation is so reconfigured with the machinery of corruption that people are confused, and morality is fast becoming a causality. Anyway, Anthony, Caesar's loyalist had said that he was not at the senate to wrong the "Senators, but to bury Caesar. Though, yours sincerely is not a loyalist of Magu, I have come to mourn the death of sanity in my nation. Nigerians will fare better next time if men of pedigree are elected to represent them at the national and State assemblies coupled with men of impeccable character at the executive branch, but before then, let's continue to mourn the death of sanity in this country that is being managed by the Democratic pretenders.



BREAKING: Again, Magu Fails Senate Test, REJECTED As EFCC Chairman

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Wednesday, refused to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

President Muhammadu Buhari had late last year submitted the name of Mr. Magu to the Senate, for confirmation as substantive Chairman of EFCC, having served in acting capacity since November, 2015.

President Buhari, however, resubmitted Magu’s name on the 23rd of January, 2017, after consulting with the leadership of the Senate.


The Senate however, turned down his confirmation, citing security reports as reason why it would not go ahead to confirm Magu.

While answering questions from the Senators on the allegations preferred against him by the security agencies, Magu said he was arrested and detained by the Nigerian Police for over 2 weeks, over the allegation that he was carrying official files and documents.

“I was locked longer than necessary for over 2 weeks, I was detained with armed robbers at Area 10.

“Another allegation was that, I was living in an apartment which belongs to Air Commodore Mohammed Umar.

“The truth was that, I was staying in Karu and was almost late for official assignment, so the authority got a new place for me”, Magu explained.

He gave a brief scorecard of his regime as acting Chairman of the EFCC, which includes, the $153m, $927m, £74,000 recently recovered from Andrew Yakubu and others, as well as the N49m recovered at the Kaduna Airport on Tuesday.

A mild drama however, turned out when the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, drew the attention of the Senate to a security report submitted to the office of the Clerk on Tuesday, 14th March 2017.

Paragraph 14 of the said report reads in part: “In the forgoing, MAGU has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti graft agency”.

The letter which emanated from the office of the Department of State Security (DSS), was however faulted by Magu and some Senators.

EXPOSED: Man Recommended By SSS As Working For Buhari Govt. Actually A Major Diezani Ally Who Helped Her 'Stole' $118m

Stanley Lawson and diezani
Premium Times - A man the State Security Service said was working for the interest of the Nigerian government was actually a money laundering suspect named in the mismanagement of about $118 million public funds, an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown.

In its controversial report to the Senate last year, the SSS said Stanley Lawson, a former Group Executive Director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and an ally of ex-petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was, “in actual fact, working in the interest of the Federal Government.”


The report was signed by Folashade Bello on behalf of the Director-General of the SSS, Lawal Daura, and addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki on October 3, 2016.

Its details became public after senators said they relied on it to reject Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the anti-graft EFCC.

Mr. Daura said his investigation revealed that Mr. Lawson was “falsely accused by Mr. Magu” for “personal reasons.”

The claim was amongst several findings the SSS said it uncovered while investigating Mr. Magu’s activities.

But contrary to the claim by the SSS, not only was Mr. Lawson involved in the controversial deal, he also returned his share of the loot to the EFCC, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

A highly placed source at the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Lawson’s name popped up when the EFCC in 2015 commenced the investigation of the alleged $118 million public funds Mrs. Alison-Madueke was accused of looting for electioneering purpose.


Anti-corruption officials said Mr. Lawson made a payment of $25 million (N7.7 billion) into Fidelity Bank and also facilitated the purchase of Le Méridien Ogeyi Place in Port Harcourt for Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who is currently under EFCC investigation for alleged involvement in large-scale corruption while in office.

When operatives traced the funds to him, he was arrested and subsequently made to refund N94.5 million he received as commission for his role in the purchase of the luxurious Port Harcourt hotel.

It is not clear if Mr. Lawson knew the funds were looted when he agreed to the deal, but EFCC investigators found he received exactly N94,516,000 from Mrs. Alison-Madueke as service charge for facilitating the deal that led to the takeover of the sprawling hotel.

PREMIUM TIMES also found that Mr. Lawson was never placed on any watch list by the EFCC after returning the N94.5 million.

This contradicts the claim by the SSS that Mr. Magu placed him on security watch list “in a bid to settle some personal scores.”

It remains unclear how the SSS arrived at the conclusion that Mr. Lawson was working for the Nigerian government in the controversial deal.

The secret police did not explain what tasks the former NNPC handled for the Buhari government in that transaction and why it became necessary to shield him from investigation and even clear him of any wrongdoing.

The SSS does not have a media contact who could have been asked to comment for this story and provide clarifications. 

Mr. Lawson, who now serves as the managing partner at Financial Advisory and Investment Consultants Limited in Abuja, could not be reached for comments between Monday and Tuesday.

His office assistant told PREMIUM TIMES he was not available and provided the email contact of his associate, Don Lawson, for further contacts.
An email sent to Don Lawson with specific details about our enquiries was not returned more than a day after.

Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesperson, did not also respond to calls and sms seeking the agency’s official position on Mr. Lawson.

Magu: President Buhari Should not Take Nigerians for Granted - ASJA

Ibrahim magu
The Advocates for Social Justice for All, ASJA has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his decision on the recent sending of the name of Ibrahim magu back to the Senate for confirmation as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
ASJA urged Buhari not to take Nigerians forgranted

ASJA Executive Secretary, Torkuma Venatius who spoke with newsmen in Abuja said Nigerians cannot watch and allow this government of change go down the drain.

"More so, having laboured as individuals and groups, without any pay, to make the President Muhammadu Buhari's government a reality, it will be irresponsible of us to stand akimbo and watch the collective will and aspirations of Nigerians dashed because of one man.


'Like as stated in previous press briefings by well meaning Nigerians, we maintain that it is our collective desire to kill corruption before the dreaded vice destroys whatever remains as our core values in Nigeria and we again state categorically that as an organisation, we have nothing personal against the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu.

"However, President Muhammadu Buhari must know that his insistence on confirmation of Acting chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu by the Senate has become a joke taken too far.
"This is a man rejected by the Senate based on unfavourble security report. Are we doubting the integrity of our security report? How will the countries of the world see Nigeria as a country?
"Magu's renomination by the President is least expected. And we are now forced to ask: is Mr. Ibrahim Magu the only qualified police man in Borno State? We are sure that if we go to Magu's village today, we shall find an equally qualified, if not better qualified, police officer.

"So, if Mr. President has zoned the position of EFCC Chairman to Magu's village, we assure him that he will find a man or woman of integrity within the federal law enforcement agencies in Magu's family.

"For Mr. President to believe that Ibrahim Magu is the only person with the qualities of an EFCC chairman amounts to taking Nigerians for granted and reducing the anti-corruption fight to an individual.

"It makes a mockery of Nigeria in the eyes of the global community and portrays Nigeria as a country of incompetent people.

"For the records, we are saying that Magu is guilty of some charges as may be contained on the security report coupled with the fact that a federal security agency has kicked against his confirmation through a security report speaks volumes.

"Mr. President will be belittling the anti-corruption crusade of his government and throwing caution to the iwind if he continues to insist on Mr. Ibrahim Magu's confirmation as EFCC Chairman.
"We hereby call on the Nigerian Senate to immediately reject the renomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu for the chairmanship of EFCC to regain the confidence of the Nigerian people" he said

7 Governors Implicated in Anti-Magu Plot; You'll Be Shocked At Their Secret Plots, Involvement

7 Governors Implicated in Anti-Magu Plot
The Nation - Seven state governors are believed to have been part of the plot to stop the Senate confirmation of  Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Nation can now reveal.

Three of them are from the South-South, two from the South-West, two from the North and one from the South-East.

One of the governors was said to have vowed to do everything to stop Magu’s confirmation, including emptying the vault of his state.

It was learnt that the governors have also been joined by a few former ministers and ex-governors who are under investigation by the anti-graft commission.


The Red Chamber on December 15 refused to confirm Magu’s nomination for the job, citing security report.

Fresh information on the Senate action yesterday cited the seven governors as part of the Stop Magu Plot.

But in a twist, a northern state governor has launched a lobby to get Magu confirmed.

The governor is at the head of a team of lobbyists trying to prevail on some forces in the presidency to have a rethink on Magu’s choice.

Some Senators initially opposed to Magu are also said to have now backtracked from the plot and may support Magu’s re-nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Although the constitution empowers the President to re-present the name of a rejected nominee, some forces are against Magu’s re-nomination.

Investigation revealed that intrigues have heightened over whether Magu should be re-nominated by the President.

A well placed source familiar with the development said: “Magu’s travail stemmed from a deep plot within and outside the government. The rejection of his candidature on December 15 without subjecting it to plenary consideration was part of the plot fuelled by some powerful forces.



“At least about seven serving governors and their godfathers were involved in lobbying which led to the rejection of Magu.

“These governors are three from the South-South, two from the South-West, two from the North and one from the South-East. In fact, one of them has been threatening to open the vault of the state to stop Magu.

“Some of these governors are unhappy that the EFCC was closing in on them. Some are fighting a proxy war because their godfathers have been touched by the EFCC. And a few others felt disappointed that their assets have been seized by the commission.

“These governors decided to prevail on Senators from their states to block Magu’s consideration. What happened on December 15 was purely an ambush. Decision at the Executive Session was announced to the public without tabling Magu’s fate at the plenary.”

It was gathered that the northern governor leading a team of lobbyists for Magu decided to step in based on his conviction that the anti-graft war must be fought to a logical conclusion.

Another source said: “This governor has been doing a yeoman’s job to save Magu. He believes the removal of Magu might significantly slow down the anti-corruption war.

“This governor does not mind if Magu goes after him tomorrow. He has been telling officials in the presidency and APC leaders that Magu’s achievements represent the true anti-corruption agenda with which the party came to power.”

Meanwhile, some Senators might backtrack from the anti-Magu plot when the Senate resumes from Christmas break.

A Senator, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of us have got more insights into the inter-play of factors which made the Senate to turn down Magu’s nomination. The issue is complex and it is more of a personality matter which the Senate ordinarily ought not to be dragged into.

“If the candidate is re-presented, we will certainly support him. Technically, Senator Ali Ndume was right that that the necessary parliamentary procedure was not followed in rejecting Magu.

“We had a consensus that we cannot proceed with the confirmation of Magu but we did not table it at the plenary as expected. There was a procedural error because of the larger agenda.”

EXPOSED: The Gang That Actually Frustrated Magu's Confirmation ...The Shady Oil Deal; Diezani, Omokore Connections

TheNiche - A long list of actors at the presidency and Senate crippled the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 14, 2016.  

Leading the pack is President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, followed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, President Buhari’s principal adviser, Mamman Daura, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Daura and Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, announced after a two-hour closed-door meeting in the Senate president’s office that Magu would not be confirmed.  

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that based on the security report available to the Senate, the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC. Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination and has returned the said nomination to Mr. President for further action,” Abudullahi said.

In June 2016, radical politician and Second Republic Lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed, had accused the gang of working against Magu’s confirmation as substantive EFCC chairman.

“These are the boys (Magu and his colleagues) who are doing the job and they are doing it so well that Mamman Daura, Abba Kyari and the Secretary to the Government and some other people around Buhari are determined to get rid of the chairman, Mustapha Magu because he took this mysterious Sahara Energy oil company and he froze the account,” Junaid had alleged.

Sahara Energy was an oil services firm owned by billionaire businessman, Jide Omokore, who is currently in the eye of the storm over some shady oil deals he had with former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison Madueke.  

Junaid Mohammed accused Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari of being directors of the company and because they failed to prevail on Magu to defreeze the account of Sahara Energy, they swore to work against his confirmation.

In a follow up phone interview, Junaid Mohhammed reiterated his charge against the men.

“first and foremost, I said what I said in June about Magu because I knew that the cabal around Buhari was not interested in an independent chairman of the EFCC.

“They have not minced words. Mamman Daura has insisted that this is his government and the government of his uncle. Kyari has been known to have, after a couple of alcoholic drink, claim that they are going to halt the anti-corruption war because they are the ones who control General Buhari.

“Similar reckless statements have emanated from the SGF, Babachir Lawal.

“I also knew that as much as Buhari was appreciative of what the acting chairman was doing, he is very much under the control of the cabal,” he said.

Executive Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran said failure of the Senate to confirm Magu was shameless and disgraceful.

“Although we knew it was going to be like making a camel pass through the eye of the needle for the acting Chairman to be made substantive, but at least we gave a benefit of doubt because we felt that, even among thieves, there should be honour,” he said.  

At Last, FG Queries Accused EFCC Boss, Magu, Begins Probe

At Last, FG Queries Accused EFCC Boss, Magu, Begins Probe
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has begun investigations into various allegations against some top Federal Government officials as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday.

Our correspondents learnt on Tuesday that following the President’s directive, the AGF had, on Monday, issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Sources in the Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC confirmed that the query was delivered to Magu on Monday.


It was learnt that the query was accompanied by allegations contained in the security report prepared by the Department of State Services and upon which the Senate had, last Thursday, rejected his confirmation as the EFCC chairman.

“The AGF has started enforcing the directive by the President. I can confirm to you that the minister has taken the first step by querying the Acting Chairman of the EFCC,” a source in the Federal Ministry of Justice said.

The source could, however, not confirm what step the AGF had taken on the allegations levelled against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal.

The source could also not confirm the ultimatum issued to Magu to respond to the query.

Meanwhile, a source close to the acting chairman of the commission said the anti-corruption officer had received the query.

He said he had already commenced preparing his defence to the allegations raised by the DSS.

The source added, “Yes, he has received the query with the DSS report sent to the Senate on him.

“Ironically, the query only contains one of the letters written by the DSS to the Senate.

“I think he has no problem with the query, but the question being asked by some people is that, he ought to have been given time to respond to the allegations before the Senate took that position.”

The letter, dated October 3, was addressed to the Clerk of the Senate, in response to a letter by the Senate, dated September 21, 2016, asking for Magu’s security check.

The report, which listed several alleged offences against the EFCC boss, said his confirmation would frustrate the anti-graft drive of the Buhari-led administration.

Part of the allegations against Magu was his being in possession of EFCC documents in his private residence during the chairmanship of Farida Waziri.

The DSS also made reference to the circumstances surrounding Magu’s arrest, detention and suspension by the Nigeria Police.

The secret service also alleged that the sum of N40m was paid for the rented apartment, which costs N20m per annum, where the acting EFCC chairman currently resides in Abuja.

It added that the accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s account but by a presidential appointee, who had been under investigation.

The DSS alleged that after renting the apartment for Magu, the friend awarded a N43m contract for the furnishing of the accommodation.

The appointee, who is a retired Air Commodore, was said to be a close associate and ally of Magu, and allegedly “runs questionable business” and was once arrested by the service.

The report, which cleared the other four EFCC appointees, said Magu flew a private jet owned by the retired military officer.

The service also claimed that the EFCC boss was once in the same flight to Maiduguri with a Managing Director of one of the new generation banks, who it alleged, was under investigation.

The Senate had, at plenary on Wednesday, called for the removal and prosecution of the SGF following alleged complicity in contract awards to take care of the Internally Displaced  Persons in the North-East.

This followed the presentation of the interim report of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East by the Chairman of the Committee, Shehu Sani.

The call for Lawal’s removal followed alleged contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and the Federal Government’s Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to award of contracts.

Presenting the report, Sani said some of the contracts were awarded to companies belonging to top government officials’ cronies and family members.

He explained that the committee found out that Global Vision Engineering Limited, a company, with Lawal as Director, for instance, was awarded a consultancy contract.

Sani said despite being an IT company, the firm got a job to clear grass in Yobe State at N200m.

He said although Lawal resigned the directorship of the said company in September 2016, it was on record that he was a signatory to the accounts of the company.

Lawal denied all the allegations, saying “the Senate is talking balderdash; it has developed a bring-him-down syndrome.”


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