Buhari I am Behind Your Back "Magu" Despite Of Dss Evidences

 

President Muhammadu Buhari would reportedly insist on his choice of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to The Nation, Buhari is studying the reasons given by the Senate for the rejection of Magu, and that he would make his position known to the upper chamber in the coming week.

The report said Buhari prefers and trusts Magu to oversee the affairs of the anti-graft agency and that he is not convinced that the man is not fit for the job.

The source said: "Personally, the President prefers Magu and he is standing by him. As at this week,

the position of the President has not changed.

"There is no doubt that the President’s advisers have recommended the retention of Magu and he is likely to heed their advice.

"As I am talking to you, there is no fresh security report or any updated information which can make Buhari to turn against Magu. So, he is likely to stand by his letter to the Senate.

"At personal level, Buhari has confided in his key aides that he wants Magu in charge of EFCC."

The Senate first rejected Magu's nomination after a damning report against him by the Department of State Service (DSS), declaring him unfit for the job on grounds of corruption.

Following his second rejection by the Red Chamber, the DSS reportedly forwarded more detailed report and documents against Magu to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Details of the documents, which was leaked to the media on Friday, March 24 - see here - purportedly proves the acting EFCC chairman is not fit to retain his job.

Magu, however, has responded to the new report in a counter memo to the AGF, declaring the allegations false in its entirety.

Magu said: "Sir, it is important to situate my relationship with Commodore Mohammed Umar (rtd), in proper perspective.

"Our paths crossed when we became members of the Presidential Committee on the investigation on arms procurement. He was instrumental in getting some of the information that helped the committee to make significant breakthrough in its assignment.

"Beyond that, the relationship between Umar and myself is one of professional acquaintance, devoid of issues of conflict of interest. So, it comes to me with shock, the imputation by the DSS that we have a "mutually beneficial relationship".

"This appears suggestive that Mohammed and I were involved in activities that could be said to be untoward. I certainly have no knowledge of such activities.

"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 Dumebi Kachikwu, were found in his home during a search by the DSS came to me as a surprise.

"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.

"Interestingly, Mohammed was detained for several months by the DSS. In all those months, did he claim that I mandated him to commit any crime or that I was an accomplice to any crime? If there is any such claim, I will wholeheartedly like to be confronted with the allegation.

"It is interesting to note that when Mohammed was eventually charged to court, the charges against him were money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, and nothing related to my purported "shady" relationship with him."

He explained the circumstances in which EFCC files were found in his house after the removal of the pioneer Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

At this time, Magu was serving in the Police Force as the head of the Economic Governance Unit.

He said: "It is true that my residence was searched on the orders of Mrs. Farida Waziri, shortly after she succeeded Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as Chairman of the EFCC and some documents relating to cases under investigation were found in my house. At the time of the raid, I was yet to formally hand over to my successor, Umar Sanda, as head of the Economic Governance Unit.

"My schedule at the time warranted that I worked round the clock and it was impossible to conclude all assignments without working at home.

"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 willfully kept the Commission’s files at home.

"Nevertheless, the incident was thoroughly investigated by the police as I was placed on suspension without pay for 20 months. But in the end, I was reprimanded, recalled and promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police.

"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."

On the N39.8 million apartment rented for him, Magu said it was false that the house was also furnished for N43 million.

He added: "I live in the official residence of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This accommodation, contrary to the report of the DSS, is not my private home, neither was it rented and furnished for me by Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd).

"It was rented and furnished by the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory through the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, under the safe house scheme.

"It is also false that the house was rented for N20 million per annum and furnished for N43 million. The entire cost for both two-year rent and the furnishing of the house is N39.628 million.

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

Buhari is expected to officially write the Senate next week on his position in the matter.