Revealed: What Magu told Buhari on SSS report that disqualified him

After the Nigerian Senate rejected him for a second time on Thursday, March 16, Premium Times is reporting about the details of acting EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu’s response to President Muhammadu Buhari’s query to him over allegations by DSS.

President Muhammadu Buhari

According to the report, Magu admitted official documents relating to cases under investigation were found in his private home when raided “on the order of Mrs. Farida Waziri when she succeeded Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the chairman of the EFCC.”

But said it was not intentional. He explained: “The documents found in my house were actually found in my office bag where I kept documents relating to investigations.

“I was in the process of handing over and it would be wrong to suggest that I wilfully kept the Commission’s files at home.”

He however claimed that he was victimized by powerful interests because of his closeness to former EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu.

“It is important sir, to draw your attention to the fact that some of us that worked closely with Ribadu were victimised after his exit. And my ordeal was orchestrated as punishment for being the chief investigative officer for most of the high profile cases involving politically exposed persons some of whom became very influential in government at the time.”

Magu also denied that he was immediate past EFCC chairman Ibrahim Lamorde’s hatchet man and was recalled to work closely with him after Waziri’s exit.

“My job schedule as Deputy Director, Department of Internal Affairs, under Lamorde, was simply handling issues of professional responsibility in the Commission. I had no inputs in core operations duties of the Commission,” Magu said.

Magu further denied living lavishly in an apartment reportedly worth over N40million and furnished with even more than that.

“The entire cost for both two-year rent and the furnishing of the house is N39.628million.

“Details of the transaction are contained in the contract award letter and payment schedule which are attached to this letter.”

The acting EFCC chief also admitted that he did fly twice on the aircraft of Colonel Mohammed Umar, a man who was under criminal investigation, but he did not know it.

“These, for me, were harmless gesture as we were both members of the presidential investigative committee on arms procurement. At the time I had no knowledge that he was under investigation for any alleged crimes,” he said.

He added: “The claim that EFCC documents, including EFCC letters addressed to the Vice President and being investigation reports on the activities of Emmanuel Kachikwu and his brother Demebi Kachikwu, were found in his home during a search by the DSS came to me as a surprise.

irector General of SSS, Lawan Daura

“If that is correct, he should be made to disclose how he came by such documents. I never discussed my official duties with him let alone give him documents pertaining to investigations being conducted by the Commission.”