Let justice be served in Magu’s case

The arrest, interrogation, detention and subsequent suspension of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has been generating reactions in the past few days. Magu was on Monday arrested by a policemen, who went to the EFCC office at Wuse II in three trucks to arrest and move him […]

The arrest, interrogation, detention and subsequent suspension of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has been generating reactions in the past few days.

Magu was on Monday arrested by a policemen, who went to the EFCC office at Wuse II in three trucks to arrest and move him to the Presidential Villa in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory where he has been facing questions by a panel led by a former Court of Appeal judge, Justice Ayo Salami (retired).

Magu was accused over alleged discrepancies in the reconciliation records of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds; not providing enough evidence for the extradition of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; alleged late action on the investigation of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) leading to legal dispute, and not respecting court order to unfreeze a N7billion judgment in favour of a former Executive Director of First Bank.

Other sins of Magu are alleged delay in acting on two vessels seized by Nigerian Navy leading to the loss of crude; favouring of some investigators called Magu’s Boys; reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to the AGF; alleged sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends, and alleged issuance of investigative activities to some media prejudicial to some cases.

The DSS  in a 2016 report revealed that he (Magu) was living in a N40m mansion allegedly paid for by a corrupt individual.

The Presidency has kept Nigerians in the dark over the matter as it was yet to issue an official confirmation on who replaces Magu either in acting or substantive capacity.

It is quite unfortunate that the head of the nation’s top anti-graft agency has come under scrutiny over allegations of corruption once again.

Past heads of the agency were also removed from office under controversial circumstances.

While more revelations unfold in the matter, it is important to allow tripartite justice to be served at the end of the day.

There should be justice for the masses, the Nigerian state and the accused. We don’t want this matter to be swept under the carpet.

At the same time, the matter should also not just be a mere media trial but based on facts and evidences that will not fall like pack of cards when taken to the law courts.

Meanwhile, I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take his time before appointing another person into that office to avoid the current embarrasing situation at hand.

We have many Nigerians of impeccable character out there that can lead the fight against corruption in the country.

All eyes and ears both at home and abroad are widely opened to see and hear how this current issue would be handled by the Buhari’s government.

 

Ahmed Salisu writes in from Maitama, Abuja.