“Magu, victim of Aso Rock power play” Sagay denies report

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption( PACAC) has disassociated itself from the statement credited to it as having said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami was exploiting his closeness to the President to deal with Ibrahim Magu.

The Chairman of PACAC, Professor Itse Sagay said the statement made by one of its members Prof Femi Odekunle.is not in any way the position of the committee, that he however spoke for himself.

Magu

Odekunle had on Monday stated that Magu’s plight could be traced to a memo by Malami to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to deal with Ibrahim Magu the Acting Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), even when himself has not showed any genuine commitment to the fight against corruption.

He stated that his statement was but preliminary reaction of PACAC to the alleged ‘arrest’ of Magu.

Odekunle stated that the real information reaching their agency was that Magu was only invited to appear before a Panel set up not long ago concerning some alleged memo by Malami, Attorney General and Minister of justice, regarding some alleged malfeasance by Magu, along with nominations for his replacement.

It was just that those sent to invite him for whatever reasons best known to them invited some press along and made it look like an arrest.

In a reaction to the above comments, the PACAC Chairman, Sagay speaking through its Communications Officer, Aghogho Agbahor, said Odekunle spoke for himself.

The statement read, “The attention of the Chairman of the PACAC had been drawn to a statement circulating in the media space credited to one of its members, Prof Femi Odekunle.

“The press release is the personal opinion of the member under whose name it was released and not that of the committee.

“If the committee consistent with its mandate has any view on the matter, it will be channelled to the President and not to the media,” the statement said.

Odekunle’s statement further stated, “While PACAC has not had a formal meeting on this development, I have discussed with the Chairman and some other members and the following can be considered as PACAC’s preliminary reaction to this development.

Malami

“The alleged originating Malami memo, up to the current “arrest” seems an outcome of power-play by power blocs in the corridors of power in which Malami appears to be an arrow-head or major agent of a power bloc that is not really interested in, or in support of, Buhari’s anti-corruption fight.
i. One can recall the earlier non-confirmation experience of Magu by the 8th Assembly, orchestrated by a power bloc and supported by the DSS ‘Security’ reports.

“ii. One can also note the non-resubmission of Magu for confirmation since May, 2019 despite the apparent willingness of the 9th Assembly to consider it this time around.

“iii. Furthermore, one must take cognisance of the alleged memo referred to earlier i.e by Malami concerning alleged corrupt practices by Magu, along with his own nominations for Magu’s replacement.

“iv. Again, we cannot forget Malami’s demand of certain high profile case files from Magu which the latter has been resisting. The position of PACAC is that while Magu, or any official of whatever status, must be nailed if found to be corrupt, the President must be careful not to shoot its anti-corruption fight /modest achievements in the foot, and not to forget that EFCC under Magu has been the Administration’s anti-corruption poster-face.

“It may not be contestable that Malami has been exploiting his alleged loyalty and closeness to the President for his personal/power bloc agenda,” Odekunle said.

He insisted that to the best of PACAC’s knowledge and observations, Malami has not manifested any genuine commitment to the anti-corruption fight.