Nigeria in uproar over alleged arrest of EFCC boss

The Guardian, Nigeria (Abuja and Lagos) – There was confusion yesterday (Monday 6 July), following news of the alleged arrest of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

Earlier reports had said officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) picked up Magu and whisked him away to their headquarters for questioning over allegations of corruption.

But just as Nigerians began to weigh up the development and its implications, the public relations officer for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, released a statement, saying the agency “wishes to inform the public that it did not arrest Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as has been reported by sections of the media. The Service has, since today, July 6 2020, been inundated with enquiries over the alleged arrest.”

Presidential review panel

Similarly, the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed in a statement: “Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Monday July 6 2020, honoured an invitation by a presidential panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC, at the Banquet Hall wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“He was served the invitation to the panel while on his way to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for a meeting.

“The EFCC’s boss was neither arrested nor forced to honour the invitation. A member of a legal team from the EFCC is also with him on the panel.”

Watchers, however, might be quick to ask why the EFCC boss deserved to be abruptly “served the invitation” to a panel “reviewing the activities of the EFCC” while he was “on his way” to another event.

This poser, which appeared to have fuelled the “arrest narrative”, is coming after a 2016 report by the DSS accused Magu of corruption and also after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, more recently indicted him in a financial scam.

N83 million for rent and furnishings

The DSS report reads in part: “In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of actions prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him a severe reprimand as punishment.

“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40 million at N20 million per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43 million,” the report added.

Private jet?

The DSS report continued: “Investigations show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.

“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.”

Matthew Ogune and Terhemba Daka (Abuja) and Kehinde Olatunji (Lagos), for the Guardian, Nigeria

The Nigerian Tribune however reports that a panel under the leadership of Justice Ayo Salami has launched an investigation of allegations against the acting EFCC chairman. The panel began its second day of sitting at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja today, 7 July.

The panel first sat yesterday when Magu was “dragged before it after being apprehended on the street in Wuse II Abuja by security officials”, the Tribune website said.

“Members of the panel were noticed at the venue of the interrogation by noon on Tuesday while a convoy of three cars, which appeared to be carrying an important guest, drove into the premises at 12.37pm,” the site reported.

“It was not certain whether Magu was the principal official in the convoy. It however had a Peugeot sedan sandwiched by two Toyota Hilux vans occupied by several security personnel who provided cover for the car.

“After a brief screening by personnel of the Department of State Security at the gate, the convoy was waved on to join the panel.

“Access was again denied to authorised persons, including journalists, by security details at the centre.

“When Tribune Online approached the gate, one queried: “There is restriction. Where exactly are you going?”

Leon Usigbe, for Nigerian Tribune

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