How Senate rejected Magu as EFCC chair

The Senate today rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The rejection followed the letter by the Department of the Security Service (DSS), which re-affirmed the agency’s earlier position on several allegations against Magu. At the confirmation hearing this afternoon, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, […]

The Senate today rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The rejection followed the letter by the Department of the Security Service (DSS), which re-affirmed the agency’s earlier position on several allegations against Magu.

At the confirmation hearing this afternoon, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) referred to the DSS letter, which was submitted to the Senate late yesterday.

"Mr acting chairman EFCC, I love you. I appreciate your sagacity. Mr Chairman, I have before me, two reports from the SSS: one addressed to the Senate in October last year and another received at 5.pm just yesterday.

"Having gone through these reports, the first report indicted you. But because of the letter from Mr President, you were re-nominated.

"However, paragraph 14 of the new report reads thus: in the light of the foregoing MAGU has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.

"When I read this report this morning, I want to inform you that we write the SSS requesting information on any nominee. The DSS is like the FBI, and we cannot rubbish the report. Anyone who wants to be chairman of EFCC, must have the character and characteristics of the person. You must be clean, clear," Melaye said.

Other senators also doubted Magu’s integrity based on the DSS report.

Magu’s rejection followed about two hours of questioning from senators.