The Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has said that he does not know how much the commission under him has recovered from national looters so far.
Mr. Magu said this while briefing and responding to questions from Senators during his screening on Wednesday.
Recall that the Senate again rejected to confirm Magu for the second time as the substantive Chairman of the anti-graft agency. This is equally sequel to another letter from the Department of State Services, DSS, to the Senate saying Mr. Magu is unfit to head the anti-graft agency.
The majority of the Senators, in a popular vote, rejected Magu as EFCC’s boss.
However, while responding to questions from the Senators during the screening, Mr. Magu said, “it is difficult to give report on how much has been recovered from fight against corruption.”
This was when Sen. Duro Faseyi asked, “How much funds has been recovered since you took charge of the commission.” Magu simply said, “It is very difficult for me to say.”
Also, Magu was asked why @cenbank Gov who released money to Dasuki is not being investigated by the commission.
Senator Isah Misau who asked the earlier question also asked again, “is it body language of President Muhammadu Buhari that EFCC uses to fight corruption since people close to the President are not being probed?”
The Senator asked again, “Dasuki took money illegally and not a single person from the CBN has been investigated or prosecuted so far?” “What is the concept of Finical crime as stipulated in the @officialEFCC act?”
In his response, Magu said no body language in the fight against corruption. He said the commitment of President Buhari to the fight against corruption is however not in doubt.
“EFCC has invited all who needs to be invited.” He said, “once we can remove corruption in Nigeria, everything will be okay.”
He said for instance, the former Petroleum Minister, Deizina Alison Madueke ran away to London with her clique that perpetuated the crime to defraud Nigeria. He said that they are on the run but he will get them.
Mr. Magu also said that EFCC does not fight corruption alone but that he is aware the Senate fights corruption as well.
However, Magu said he will not be surprised if whitlseblowers are to take the security agents to his house because he now has a big house.
On the two petition letters from DSS against Magu’s confirmation, Senator Dino Melaye said, :””You speak the truth you die, you lie and die, i am going to speak the truth. I love you, i appreciate your sagacity.”
“Paragraph 14 of the DSS letter on Magu which says In the light of the foregoing, MAGU has failed the integrity test.”
Senator Dino told Magu that, “Every nominee before @ngrsenate we do request for screening by DSS, it did not start with you (Magu)& it won’t end with you.”
To this, Magu said two reports were submitted in one day about him and as such, that questions the integrity of the DSS as well.
“Myself and @dino_melaye have been fighting corruption before he became a Senator,” Magu said.
But, Senator Olujimi sympathised with Magu saying, “Mr Magu, i feel for you, it is clear there are inter-agency problem in Nigeria.”
Senate President, Bukola Saraki said there’s an administrative problem and asked the clerk to confirm if he received two letters from DG SSS.
But the Clerk confirmed that he received only one letter.
However, Ibrahim Magu’s nomination and confirmation as Chairman @officialEFCC was rejected by majority of the Senators.
Recall that in December last year, the Senate rejected the confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The Senate said security reports about the person of Mr Magu was not favorable for his clearance for the anti-graft agency’s top job and asked President Muhammadu Buhari who nominated him to immediately replaced him.
The Plenary was however adjourned to Thursday 16th March, 2017.
