By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — Senate, on Saturday, expressed some relief that it has been vindicated on its decision to reject the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Magu was, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, rejected by the Senate for the second time in three months, after screening him by the Red Chamber.
The Upper Legislative Chamber based its rejection of Magu on a report sent to it by the DSS in December 2016.
Magu had earlier been rejected by the Senate due to the report, which accused him of corruption.
But some Nigerians have argued that Senate’s refusal to confirm the embattled Acting Chairman of the anti-graft was not right and well informed.
Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, who maintained that Buhari can still renominate Magu for confirmation as the EFCC Chairman, described Senate’s action as a ridicule of President Muhammadu Buhari’s office.
“The rejection of the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) this afternoon by the Senate on the basis of a security report compiled by the State Security Service is the height of official ridicule of the office of the President.
“It is high time the State Security Service (SSS) was restrained by President Buhari from sabotaging the fight against corruption by the federal government.
“With respect to the Senate, the confirmation hearing hurriedly conducted today is illegal in every material particular. The participation of many senators, who are either under investigation, or being prosecuted by the EFCC, has vitiated the entire proceedings of the Senate on grounds of conflict of interest,” Falana said.
A leaked report of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) sent to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Friday, described Magu as “a perennial offender, who cannot change”.
Reacting to the DSS report, spokesman of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, on Saturday, said that the Upper Legislative Chamber has been vindicated.
Abdullahi
“Following several calls made to me today (Saturday) by journalists seeking my comments on the (leaked) report on Mr. Ibrahim Magu, which was more damning than the one submitted to us, I can only say that myself and my colleagues have been vindicated.
“From that report, which is now public, it is obvious the DG SSS even tried to give Magu soft landing in the report that was sent to the Senate. The recent report is messier, and shows that our decision not to confirm his nomination was right.
“We, therefore, call on all Nigerians to continue to have full confidence and trust on the Nigerian Senate, as it discharges its responsibilities according to the letter and spirit of the Nigerian constitution,” Abdullahi stated in a statement on Saturday.
It would be recalled that the DSS sent a memo to the AGF titled: ‘Re: Request for Additional Documents/Information’.
The memo, a seven-page report, with eight paragraphs, which contained annexures marked A to L, was signed by Folashade Bello for the Director-General, SS, was obtained by the Sundiata Post.
The report, which called Magu “a perennial offender and cannot change”, further accused Magu of lacking judgment where it matters most.
“An officer appointed as Ag. Chairman of EFCC should by by all means be one of impeccable credentials, with proven integrity and capacity to lead the nation’s fight against graft in high and low places. Thus far, it is evident from MAGU’s antecedents that he is by no means that kind of officer. His relationship with Umar MOHAMMED which involved disclosure of very sensitive and classified official documents in his possession shows lack of professionalism and assails his integrity. More so, for an officer, who was indicted and nearly dismissed six (6) months ago to be again involved in similar circumstances, it is clear that MAGU is a perennial offender and cannot change.
“He accepted to move into a tastily furnished accommodation without any scrutiny how it was furnished. This is curious and speaks volume of his personality,” the report pointed out.
The report also observed that Magu’s relationship with the likes of Umar not only exposes Magu as a fraudulent officer, but also betrays the high confidence reposed in him by Buhari.
“The recovery of sensitive and classified documents from the residence of UMAR underlays his close affinity to MAGU and an apparent penchant for sabotaging official processes and administrative protocols, just to further the latter’s personal material and pecuniary agenda. Such mutually beneficial relationship as with UMAR, who by his confession, approaches ‘clients’ for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns is unprecedented and very damning for an anti-graft top official,” the report observed.
The report went on to add that Magu does not have the ability to settle personal matters without using the instruments of government.
“A further demonstration of MAGU’s questionable credibility is an untainted anti-corruption official is his failed bid to settle personal scores with one Stanley Inye LAWSON by placing him on Security Watch Action. It was, however, discovered that LAWSON was actually working in the interest of the Federal Government and the Action was subsequently expunged,” the report added.
