Again Senate rejects Magu as EFCC boss

The Senate has again, Wednesday, rejected IbrahimMagu as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s boss.

This is the second time the Senate is rejectingMagu as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency.

At the Senate’s plenarytoday, majority of the Senators rejected the confirmation of Magu as the EFCCboss through popular vote.

However, Senator Ali Ndume in a pont of Orderprotested the non-confirmation of Ibrahim Magu and states thatSenate received two letters. He agreed that Majority will have itsway but minority must have its say.

To this, the SenatePresident, Bukola Saraki said “We should not rubbish the entireinstitution because of an individual.”

Earlier, Mr. Ibrahim Magu had given a briefintroduction about himself before the Senate. Magu had told the Senatethat, “I look forward to bringing new strategies for fighting corruption.”

He said, “We look forward torestructuring the Commision, expanding operations in Ibadan and Maiduguri,improve Man power capacity.

The Deputy SenatePresident, Ike Ekweremadu after thanking Magu asked about the operationsof the EFCC on disobeying court orders and cases of human rights abuse. Heasked how EFCC under Magu will fight corruption.

The acting EFCC boss was also asked by Sen. AtaiAidoko about the operational procedure in detaining suspects on investigationunder Magu.

In his response, Mr.Magu said he did not come with the DSS report on the investigation carriedout.

He cited thata human right activists once said EFCC’s cells are like hotels andthere is too much comfort in there, therefore, reports of DSS claiming inhumanetreatment of suspects in the EFCC’s cells cannot stand.

The Department of StatesServices, DSS, in a letter to the Senate said, “In the light of theforegoing, Magu has failed the integrity test.”

Concerning allegationsabout the house he bought without due procedure, Mr. Magu said he only stayedthere because of its close proximity to work and to avoid late night movement.

Also, the Senators askedMagu to explain his findings from the investigations done by the commission onthe Paris club fund and how much the commission has recovered from looters sofar.

Senator Shehu Saniasked, “You need to expantiate on your activities on human rights,What are yourfindings and activities on the Paris Club fund.”

“How much funds has beenrecovered since you took charge of the commission,” asked Sen. Duro Faseyi. Mr.Magu replied by saying, “It is difficult to give report on how much has beenrecovered from fight against corruption.”

He said althoughEFCC is not always right on its decisions, but the agency strive to do itsbest. Recall that in December last year, the Senate rejected theconfirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission, EFCC.

The Senate said securityreports about the person of Mr Magu was not favorable for his clearance for theanti-graft agency’s top job and asked President Muhammadu Buhari who nominatedhim to immediately replaced him.

Culled from Vanguard Newspaper