WHY MAGU CAN’T BE EFCC CHAIRMAN — SENATE

The Senate yesterday refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, upon a security report by the Department of State Services, DSS, sparking a verbal backlash from supporters of Magu. The 14-paragraph confidential report said that Magu has failed the integrity test and that if confirmed, he could eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the administration. The Senate, however, gave approval for the screening of the four members of the EFCC board whose names were sent alongside Magu by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for confirmation in July while President Muhammadu Buhari was away on medical vacation.

The DSS security report, among others alleged that Magu is occupying a N20 million per year accommodation, allegedly rented for him by someone under EFCC investigation; lives a flamboyant lifestyle and flouted the President’s order against public officers flying first class when he went on pilgrimage. Some of the accusations were last night being pooh-poohed by associates of Magu. One associate particularly debunked the accommodation allegation, saying that Magu lives in a house provided for him by the Federal Capital Territory. Addressing journalists after a closed-door session, which lasted for about three hours, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi said that the rejection was based on security reasons.

Reading a prepared statement, Senator Abdullahi said: “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that based on security reports available to the Senate; the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as Executive Chairman of EFCC. “Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination and has returned the said nomination to Mr. President for further action.”