EFCC: Magu Detained Overnight As Presidency Panel Resumes Grilling Today

Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was not released yesterday after facing a panel set-up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe activities of the commission.

Naija News reports that the EFCC boss will continue his grilling before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel today.

It was gathered that the Magu spent Monday night at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Abuja.

The EFCC boss left the Presidential Villa after the panel ended its sitting at 10:15 pm and was whisked in his official car to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

At the FCID around 10.50pm, Magu rejected an offer to take him into an office to stay the night, insisting that he should be kept in a cell as a suspect.

Sitting on a chair, he said: “I won’t go and sleep in any office, I prefer to be in a cell. Kindly put me in a cell. That is what Allah wants for me. I can’t question God.”

A source told Tha Nation that, “In the light of the ongoing investigation, it became expedient to detain Magu at the FCID. We do not want him to return to the office while he is being questioned, because he is likely to have another session with the Justice Salami panel.”

Magu’s suspension imminent

It was also gathered that the acting EFCC chairman would be suspended from office, as plans to get a replacement was already underway.

“By not allowing him to go back to his office was an indication that he might be suspended.

“It is obvious that the Presidency has concluded plans to look for a new candidate for the office,” the source said.

Some of the allegations against him listed are:

• Alleged discrepancies in the reconciliation records of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds
• Declaration of N539billion as recovered funds instead of N504b earlier claimed
• Insubordination to the office of the AGF by not seeking his approval on some decisions
• Not providing enough evidence for the extradition of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke
• Alleged late action on the investigation of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) leading to legal dispute
• Not respecting court order to unfreeze a N7billion judgment in favour of a former Executive Director of First Bank
• Alleged delay in acting on two vessels seized by Nigerian Navy leading to the loss of crude
• Alleged favouring of some investigators called Magu’s Boys
• Reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to the AGF
• Alleged sales of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends
• Alleged issuance of investigative activities to some media prejudicial to some cases.