As AGF Probes SGF, Magu

On Sunday last week, after many days’ ominous silence, President Muhammadu Buhari finally spoke on the disturbing allegations of corruption swirling around some key officers of his administration. The presidency announced that Buhari had ordered Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to conduct a probe of all key officers […]

On Sunday last week, after many days’ ominous silence, President Muhammadu Buhari finally spoke on the disturbing allegations of corruption swirling around some key officers of his administration. The presidency announced that Buhari had ordered Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to conduct a probe of all key officers accused of corruption. The statement added that those found guilty will not escape prosecution. 

Two allegations of high level corruption arose in the Senate the previous week. On Wednesday, December 14, Senate received an interim report of its Ad Hoc on Mounting IDP Crisis in the North East. The report accused Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal of several misdeeds including failing to account for N2.5 billion Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE)  funds and awarding contracts to his friends and cronies, some of whom turned around and paid kickbacks into his company’s accounts. Yobe State government officials also said the PINE contracts, allegedly for clearing invasive grass species and building temporary Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) shelters, were not executed. 

While some senators called for the SGF’s resignation, others cautioned that it was an interim report and they should await the final report. SGF David Lawal reacted the following day and said the senators’ allegation was “balderdash.” He said he was not given the chance to defend himself and that even though he founded Rholavision, the company accused of receiving the kickbacks, he resigned from its directorship in 2015 when he became SGF. Rholavision put out newspaper ads saying Lawal was no longer its director [that his son is the new managing director] and that some Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) papers obtained by the Senate panel were forged. 

On the key allegation of receiving kickbacks from Josmon, the company that won the PINE grass cutting contract and later made 23 transfers of N10 million each to Rholavision’s account, the company said it is left for Josmon to explain why it did so. This defence did not impress many people. Documents leaked from the Senate report cast doubts on everything that the SGF and Rholavision said. For example, Lawal’s claim that he was not invited by the committee is disputed by a letter to it signed by the Perm Sec (SSO) in the SGF’s office, referring to an invitation for Lawal to appear before it. 

Given the untidiness of this matter and the SGF’s very high standing in the Federal Government and in Buhari’s inner circles, Nigerians expected a prompt and vigorous reaction from Buhari but for days none came.

A day after the Lawal episode, Senate refused to confirm Buhari’s nominee Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). It said it relied upon a report by the Department of State Services (DSS) which accused Magu of some misdemeanours. Among others DSS said Magu is very close to a controversial businessman and retired Air Commodore who paid the N40 million rent for Magu’s residence. It said Air Commodore Umar Mohammed influences Magu’s official actions and that Magu travelled in his private planes. What was most shocking was that DSS would send a report to the Senate undermining a candidate nominated by the president for a high office. It suggests there was no security screening before the nomination. It also portrayed the Buhari administration as sloppy and added fuel to suspicions of a deadly rivalry among Buhari’s top officials.

Whatever be the truth, allegations have been made against Magu, for that matter by the government’s top intelligence agency. At the minimum these allegations have to be probed because the EFCC Chairman is central to the anti-corruption war and the person should be beyond reproach, as much as possible. Of course many Nigerians believe that the Senate jumped at DSS’s report because Magu, who has headed EFCC for more than a year as acting Chairman, stepped on many senators’ toes. It was probably a mistake to make a man Acting EFCC chairman for some long when he will make enemies before his confirmation. If Magu is being falsely accused, it is necessary to move very fast and clear him.

The President’s response fell short of expectations in several ways. Some doubt if the Attorney General is the right person to conduct this probe. Buhari’s order was not specific about which officials are to be probed. Though Lawal and Magu are the ones most recently in the eye of the storm, other aides of the president have corruption allegations swirling around them. Malami was not given a time limit to conclude the assignment, thus undermining its urgency. As last week ended the presidency failed to clarify whether Magu will continue to head EFCC in an acting capacity even after Senate rejected his confirmation. Many Nigerians also think it is odd to allow people who are being probed to hang on to their powerful offices, which could jeopardise investigations.

The reason why this matter is so important is because probity, integrity and incorruptibility are the cornerstones of Buhari’s political standing and of his regime’s legitimacy. Without them, Buhari has almost no political capital left. Nigerians’ patience with many of the regime’s failings is precisely because of Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials. As such, we expect him to move much faster, more forcefully and more transparently to conclude this investigation, punish any culprits found and exonerate anyone found to be innocent of the charges. No sacrifice is too much for Buhari to protect his hard-won anti-corruption credentials.On Sunday last week, after many days’ ominous silence, President Muhammadu Buhari finally spoke on the disturbing allegations of corruption swirling around some key officers of his administration. The presidency announced that Buhari had ordered Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to conduct a probe of all key officers accused of corruption. The statement added that those found guilty will not escape prosecution. 

Two allegations of high level corruption arose in the Senate the previous week. On Wednesday, December 14, Senate received an interim report of its Ad Hoc on Mounting IDP Crisis in the North East. The report accused Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal of several misdeeds including failing to account for N2.5 billion Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE)  funds and awarding contracts to his friends and cronies, some of whom turned around and paid kickbacks into his company’s accounts. Yobe State government officials also said the PINE contracts, allegedly for clearing invasive grass species and building temporary Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) shelters, were not executed. 

While some senators called for the SGF’s resignation, others cautioned that it was an interim report and they should await the final report. SGF David Lawal reacted the following day and said the senators’ allegation was “balderdash.” He said he was not given the chance to defend himself and that even though he founded Rholavision, the company accused of receiving the kickbacks, he resigned from its directorship in 2015 when he became SGF. Rholavision put out newspaper ads saying Lawal was no longer its director [that his son is the new managing director] and that some Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) papers obtained by the Senate panel were forged. 

On the key allegation of receiving kickbacks from Josmon, the company that won the PINE grass cutting contract and later made 23 transfers of N10 million each to Rholavision’s account, the company said it is left for Josmon to explain why it did so. This defence did not impress many people. Documents leaked from the Senate report cast doubts on everything that the SGF and Rholavision said. For example, Lawal’s claim that he was not invited by the committee is disputed by a letter to it signed by the Perm Sec (SSO) in the SGF’s office, referring to an invitation for Lawal to appear before it. 

Given the untidiness of this matter and the SGF’s very high standing in the Federal Government and in Buhari’s inner circles, Nigerians expected a prompt and vigorous reaction from Buhari but for days none came.

A day after the Lawal episode, Senate refused to confirm Buhari’s nominee Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). It said it relied upon a report by the Department of State Services (DSS) which accused Magu of some misdemeanours. Among others DSS said Magu is very close to a controversial businessman and retired Air Commodore who paid the N40 million rent for Magu’s residence. It said Air Commodore Umar Mohammed influences Magu’s official actions and that Magu travelled in his private planes. What was most shocking was that DSS would send a report to the Senate undermining a candidate nominated by the president for a high office. It suggests there was no security screening before the nomination. It also portrayed the Buhari administration as sloppy and added fuel to suspicions of a deadly rivalry among Buhari’s top officials.

Whatever be the truth, allegations have been made against Magu, for that matter by the government’s top intelligence agency. At the minimum these allegations have to be probed because the EFCC Chairman is central to the anti-corruption war and the person should be beyond reproach, as much as possible. Of course many Nigerians believe that the Senate jumped at DSS’s report because Magu, who has headed EFCC for more than a year as acting Chairman, stepped on many senators’ toes. It was probably a mistake to make a man Acting EFCC chairman for some long when he will make enemies before his confirmation. If Magu is being falsely accused, it is necessary to move very fast and clear him.

The President’s response fell short of expectations in several ways. Some doubt if the Attorney General is the right person to conduct this probe. Buhari’s order was not specific about which officials are to be probed. Though Lawal and Magu are the ones most recently in the eye of the storm, other aides of the president have corruption allegations swirling around them. Malami was not given a time limit to conclude the assignment, thus undermining its urgency. As last week ended the presidency failed to clarify whether Magu will continue to head EFCC in an acting capacity even after Senate rejected his confirmation. Many Nigerians also think it is odd to allow people who are being probed to hang on to their powerful offices, which could jeopardise investigations.

The reason why this matter is so important is because probity, integrity and incorruptibility are the cornerstones of Buhari’s political standing and of his regime’s legitimacy. Without them, Buhari has almost no political capital left. Nigerians’ patience with many of the regime’s failings is precisely because of Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials. As such, we expect him to move much faster, more forcefully and more transparently to conclude this investigation, punish any culprits found and exonerate anyone found to be innocent of the charges. No sacrifice is too much for Buhari to protect his hard-won anti-corruption credentials.