President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and appointed the agency’s Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar to take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by Justice Ayo Salami-led panel.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) made the announcement on Friday.
According to a statement by the media aide to the AGF, Dr Umar Gwandu, the approval is “in order to allow for unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws.”
The statement also added that President Buhari approved that Umar should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives in that regards.
President Buhari constituted the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel to probe various allegations levelled against Magu following petitions by Malami and the Department of State Service (DSS).
Malami’s memo allegedly accused Magu of diversion of recovered loot.
The memo was said to contain 22 allegations against the embattled EFCC chairman.
Daily Trust reports that the existence of the Salami-led presidential panel was not known until Magu was arrested on Monday.
Credible sources said the panel had been sitting in the last two weeks and had reviewed “tons of documents and interacted with other people before directing security operatives to bring Magu for interrogation.”
Nobody above scrutiny
Several sources said that Magu’s fate might have been determined over three weeks ago because of the gravity of the allegations against him but needed to be given an opportunity to defend himself in the midst of what one of the sources called “solid evidences”.
A reliable presidency source told State House reporters that the ongoing probe of Magu was an indication that nobody is above scrutiny under the Buhari administration.
The source, who preferred anonymity, said the investigation was to reinforce transparency and accountability and to give Magu the opportunity to clear himself of weighty allegations.
The source who said the holder of an elevated office such as the chairman of the EFCC must be above suspicion, assured that there would be fairness and justice.
“Under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, nobody is above scrutiny. Repeat: nobody.
“The investigation is to reinforce transparency and accountability, rather than to vitiate it.
“Accountability for our actions or inactions is an inalienable part of democracy,” he said.
