Presidency seeks Senate support for Magu’s confirmation

The Presidency on Thursday re- launched fresh move to get Mr. Ibrahim Magu confirmed as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This is as the Federal Government wanted the National Assembly to pass all anti – corruption legislation undergoing legislative processes at the 9th Assembly.

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Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itsay Sagay, on Thursday, during a courtesy visit on the Senate President, Dr, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, pleaded that the legislature should confirm the acting Chairman without delay.

Describing Magu as a fighter who has done well fighting corruption, Sagay said: “We are really very happy to be here to interact with your highly exalted office. We must commend your leadership for speedy passage of the budget and the change in the nation’s calendar year being effected by the National Assembly leadership.

“We equally urge you to pass anti-corruption bills and other similar bills that would aid anti-corruption fight.

“We are calling on the Senate to consider speedy confirmation of the Acting Chairman of EFCC who has done wonderfully believing that EFCC activities would support the commitment of the 9th Senate”.

He further charged lawmakers to ensure that their Constituency projects gets to the people, adding “the issue of Constituency project has been a controversial one, but I believe it is in the interest of this country.”

Responding, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said the Senate is yet to receive any formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari for Magu’s confirmation.

Lawan commended PACAC for being vocal against corruption and their support for the ninth Senate.

He said external supports have assisted the lawmakers to remain focused on their legislative activities.

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), also speaking on Wednesday when he led his team on solidarity visit to the EFCC boss at the Commission’s headquarters said, “When something is good; when you see high quality, merit, dedication, and somebody who is courageous in the fight against corruption, I think it will be stupid to say you are looking for something outside.

“This is not a turn-by-turn thing. It is a thing of merit. You must work for it and achieve it. In our view, the Acting Chairman deserves everything including his being given a substantive appointment.

“It is true one man cannot make a forest, but it takes a good man, a man of quality to bring out the best in any organisation, and that is what he represents – an uncompromising person.

“As far as corruption is concerned, no one have the courage in this country to offer him a bribe, because he or she knows the result will be a disaster. We are solidly behind Magu and the EFCC, ” he said.

While expressing support to the Commission, Sagay said “EFCC deserves continued support so that it will know it is being appreciated.

“You cannot pick up a newspaper any day without you reading EFCC’s achievement in terms of charges, forfeiture of assets, convictions, among others.

Sagay equally expressed optimism that the 9th Senate would do the right thing by confirming Magu when his name was forwarded to it by President Buhari, saying there would not be any reason for the legislators to reject Magu’s confirmation.

For his part, the EFCC boss thanked President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for giving him every support he had required to achieve the successes recorded by the commission.

He assured the PACAC delegation that he and the EFCC team would continue to give their utmost in the fight against corruption.

 “I assure you that so far as I am here as the chairman of the Commission, I will continue to do the right thing, and we will ensure the things we do are within the ambit of the law. We are trained to kill corruption,” Magu said.