Magu only honoured an invitation, not arrested – EFCC

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The media was awash Monday afternoon of the arrest of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, by operatives of Directorate of State Security Services (DSS),the commission has said he only honoured an invitation not arrested.

In a statement made available by EFCC’s Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, it said Magu was neither arrested nor forced to honour the invitation of the Presidential Panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC, at the Banquet Hall wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Oyewale

“Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu on Monday, July 6, 2020, honoured an invitation by a Presidential Panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC, at the Banquet Hall wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“He was served the invitation to the Panel, while on his way to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for a meeting.

“The EFCC’s boss was neither arrested nor forced to honour the invitation. A member of a legal team from the EFCC is also with him on the Panel,” the statement said.

According to reports making round, Magu was arrested in a commando manner by operatives of the Department of State Services who were said to have raided the old headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at about noon on Monday to arrest its chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

Sources at the EFCC headquarters narrated what played out at the premises as embarrassing as it was surrounded by scores of gunmen before he was arrested.

Magu’s arrest may not be unconnected to his alleged ownership of four properties, and   engagement in transferring funds abroad through a third party.

Further to this, in a startling report of the DSS on Magu in 2016, revealed that the yet to be confirmed financial crimes czar was accused of living in a N40 million mansion paid for by one Umar Mohammed, a retired air commodore allegedly involved in shady deals.

The report read in part, “In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security; withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.

“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.

“Investigations show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.

Mohammed

“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

“Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high-profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels. On 24 June, 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.

“Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns,” the report said.