Friday, March 29, 2024

Revealed! Real forces behind Magu’s ordeal

Unknown to many, a ring of enemies has been built around the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, from the first day he resumed at the Abuja head office of the anti-graft agency.
His first challenge was the choice of the agency’s Director of Operations that would work very closely with him.
Magu, a reliable source in Aso Rock in Abuja revealed, was not favourably disposed to the man that was “detailed to work with him”.
The “appointed man”, who was initially working at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti Street, Yaba, Lagos, was said to have been rejected outrightly by Magu, who reportedly based his argument on ethnic issues.
Barely a week to the resumption day of the Igbo-speaking man as EFCC director of operations, the then chief superintendent of police was said to have organised a lavish party for his invited core loyalists allegedly with the intention of using the occasion to announce to them that he would soon become a force to reckon with in the EFCC. 
To prove his point, the then CSP was said to have selected a few Igbo officers within the rank and file to “follow” him to his new office.
But the officer’s dream never materialised as he was later told that the coveted position had been ceded to a “better candidate that is very much trusted by Magu”.
This development, according to an inside source, “only created a wide gulf within the anti-graft agency as those perceived Igbo loyalists, some of who had been working within the agency, decided to throw spanner in the works against Ibrahim Magu, who now wore the toga of a tribalist”.
According to The Point’s findings, not too long afterwards, the need to put Magu on the scale of character measurement came, following an avalanche of petitions sent to the Presidency concerning the way he was running the agency.
The Igbo officers, allegedly bent on taking their own pound of flesh, did not waste time to volunteer information to the authorities about the alleged “wheeling and dealing” that had reportedly become the tradition within the anti-graft agency.
It was this “inside source “information that soon transformed into the First Information Report about Magu.
Therefore, when barely three weeks ago the Senate refused to confirm Magu as EFCC chairman, watchers were not surprised, though it was a shock the anti-graft agency’s boss.
In terse but powerful remarks, the spokesman of the lawmakers, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said, after a rowdy executive session, “The Senate wish to inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot proceed with confirmation of Ibrahim Magu, as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The nomination of Ibrahim Magu, is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action.”
Of course, the security report cited by the Senate for Magu’s rejection alleged that the acting EFCC chairman had flown First Class and lived in a N40million mansion paid for by an allegedly corrupt individual.
Ostensibly relying very much on the report said to have been authored by the Department of State Services, Abdullahi had said further, “Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40million at N20million per annum. This accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar MohammedAir 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 N43million.
“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.
“Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first class air travels. On 24 June, 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9M. This is in spite of Mr. President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class”.
Unofficial reports also have it that the acting EFCC boss, among other allegationsallegedly recruited some paid front-line journalists working for some critical national newspapers across the country, for the purpose of “dousing tensions” whenever the need arises.
The source added that, “all these were clandestinely planned to nail Magu at all cost both by his professional colleagues who are envious of his coveted position and corrupt others who have been indicted by the Commission, most especially politicians and career individuals.
Independent sources very close to the corridors of power had initially hinted our correspondent that Magu was being witch-hunted, after all.
“Majority of his detractors are bent on vendetta. Senate President Bukola Saraki had never shown any known interest in Magu.
“It is on record that under Malam Nuhu Ribadu as EFCC Chairman, Magu was the leading investigator of the anti-graft agency. He had all the corruption case files of all former Governors, including that of Saraki who has just finished his second term as governor of Kwara State. So, he is never in the good books of Saraki even as the Senate President,” the source declared.
Enter James Ibori
Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, was also a very close ally Saraki.
Ibori was first arrested by the EFCC in company with Saraki at the Kwara Governor’s lodge in Abuja, an action Saraki regarded as an affront.
Saraki, who had teamed up with Ibori to help to make Umaru Musa Yar’adua the president in 2007, was allegedly instrumental to the “in-house weakening” of the then Ribadu-led EFCC.
Ribadu was later accused of using the EFCC to witch-hunt enemies of the then president Olusegun Obasanjo. In the heat of the political face-off, Ribadu was demoted from an assistant inspector general of police to a deputy commissioner of police under Yar’adua.
With the active connivance of an inspector general of police, Ribadu was thereafter sent to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, in an alleged calculated attempt not only to weaken the EFCC but to also humiliate his person. Even during his passing out ceremony at the same college, he was thoroughly embarrassed by the clique, who would not allow him a breathing space.
“Thus Ribadu’s reign as anti-corruption fighter was brought to a premature end with Saraki and other powerful politicians in Nigeria pulling the strings behind the scenes the whole time,” a source said.
Farida Warizi as an option
Obviously, Saraki had a say in the appointment of Farida Waziri as Ribadu’s replacement.
Under Waziri, the EFCC allegedly degenerated into a toothless bulldog before going completely limp and finally comatose.
Meanwhile, the cabal within the Presidency is mounting enormous pressure on the Saraki-led Senate not to confirm Magu as EFCC chairman.
This cabal, it was further learnt, include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; DSS Director General, Lawal Daura; Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
According to a report,” Mr. Malami was upset that the EFCC boss was not taking directives from him regarding issues of who to prosecute or not. His bitterness actually led to the setting up of the National Prosecution Committee that is today domiciled in his office”.
Those who are in tune with the goings-on in Aso Villa will attest to the fact that Kyari is a friend with Jide Omokore-an ally of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke.
Magu has refused to drop investigations against Omokore and his Sahara Energy. It is believed that Kyari has substantial interests in Sahara Energy.
Omokore was a beneficiary of several corrupt oil swap deals carried out under Diezani.
Magu is allegedly being pressured by Kyari and other unseen hands to drop corruption charges against Omokore.
Beyond this aspect of why the cabal wanted Magu’s head on a political altar, Senate President Saraki has also not forgiven Magu for arresting his wife, Toyin Saraki, and grilling her for hours in July 2015.
Of course, the Magu-led EFCC is also investigating Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Stella Oduah for her airport renovation projects under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Seemingly untouchable Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremaduhas also been embarrassed and grilled by Magu in the recent past.
“Indeed, Ibrahim Magu, has been fighting on all fronts, apparently because, there appears to be a colony of the corrupt rich in the society, who feel they are the law onto themselves.
“The EFCC has lately opened corruption files against several serving lawmakers and some self-styled international business men and women. Some of them go under the toga of being “professionals”.
“If Magu is desirous of retaining his position and maintaining his integrity, he had better make some concessions here and there, otherwise, a “yes-man officer” is being shopped for by the hawks within and outside the “core policy makers” to take over his office,” said a source.

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