Presidency Reacts As Police Commission Fails To Promote Magu

The presidency has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari has no hand in the decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) not to promote Ibrahim Magu.

Magu, a former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was conspicuously missing on the list as the PSC on Thursday announced the promotion of 24 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG).

Naija News recalls the PSC in a statement by its spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani titled ‘PSC Promotes 24 CPs, 35 DCPs, 52 ACPs, 50 CSPs, Drops Ibrahim Magu,’ explained that the Commission’s 12th Plenary Meeting held on Tuesday and Wednesday, which was presided over by its Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police declined the promotion of CP Magu to the rank of AIG.

“The Commission declined the promotion of CP Magu pending clearance from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General of Police,” the statement partly read.

Subsequently, insinuations arose that President Buhari might have influenced the decision of the PSC against Magu.

But reacting to the media report in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency said Buhari had no hand in the decision taken by the commission.

“We will be happy if your paper can correct the misinformation published, that President Buhari has ordered the promotion of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Magu.

“As you can see, the PDP has taken off from there, issuing one of those thoughtless press releases of theirs. President Buhari, or any Nigerian President for that matter, is not responsible for promotions in the Police. That is the business of the Police Service Commission, PSC.

“In the case of the gentleman in question, who is currently under investigation, common sense dictates that his eligibility will be determined by that outcome.

“The PSC could have given you the correct position on this if there was an effort to reach them,” the statement reads.