This was the background that informed his choice in an acting capacity by Mr. President who was then shopping for an incorruptible character at the helm of affairs at the EFCC expected to drive the administration’s anti-corruption agenda. Magu neither lobbied or applied for the job but was singled out for national service on account of his knowledge, experience, exposure, integrity and character in fighting anti-corruption over the years.
But the critical question remains, has Magu justified his rating in the last six months of his acting role at the helm of EFCC? Every honest Nigerian will attest to the fact that in the last six months, the character of the anti-corruption battle has changed dramatically gaining increasing confidence of the rank and file even as the perception of the EFCC changed positively with the realisation that it is no longer business as usual as EFCC continues to record convictions and successes in various spheres with Magu at the helm of affairs.
The list included the following: a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Raymond Temisan Omatseye (five years for N.5n contract scam); a Lagos Court Registrar, Mrs. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke (10 years for $8.4 million); a former Chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, Gabriel Daudu (154 years for N1.4 billion fraud); ex Adamawa Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, John Elias Babani (10 years for N51.5 million); George Uboh (three years for selling vehicles belonging to the defunct Police Equipment Fund). The EFCC also secured a court order to extradite a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Ehi Okonyomon to the United Kingdom (UK) to face charges of corruption and money laundering on the N750 million polymer bribery scandal. It also got another order to extradite a Nigerian fugitive, Franca Asemota to the UK for prosecution for trafficking minors.
There are also ongoing trials in various courts with some of the suspects involved volunteering to return state funds because they know that this regime is different and that Magu at the helm of EFCC cannot and will not be compromised. Magu is competent with character and capacity. His anger against corruption is passionate with the element of courage in waging the war.
Indeed, I bear personal testimony to Magu’s integrity and passion in fighting the war against corruption and I will share two personal experiences to buttress my submission in the above regard. In one of my informal meetings, I tried to sound him out on his attitude to a few of the ongoing high profile cases some of which he inherited from the previous administration. He informed me that the guilt or innocence of the suspects is for the court to determine and the offences alleged if proved (emphasis if proved) constitute offences against the Nigerian State and the Nigerian people and that if he does anything to pervert the course of justice without allowing justice to take its course in any of these matters it will amount to the gross betrayal of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state.
On another occasion involving an informal meeting with witnesses including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Magu informed us that any attempt to shield any operative of the commission who is accused of any offence bordering on financial malpractices will mean transferring the burden of guilt of the affected operative from the operative to himself for which he has to answer to God not only here but hereafter. I came out of the two encounters fully convinced that this is one anti-corruption fighter who is conscious of his place in history, posterity and hereafter after he might have gone from this planet. Magu does not cease to amaze me on account of his passion and his readiness to sacrifice everything including his life in defence of his convictions. Indeed, Magu is a no nonsense police officer whose services is required by our country at this point in time even if he cannot do the job alone without the collaboration of all Nigerians.
My recommendation
I will strongly recommend to the distinguished body of the Senate to ask Magu on account of his accomplishments to simply take a bow and proceed to his desk and the field to continue the good work he has started. I believe that the Senate which is recognised as constituted by men and women of exemplary qualities and who have the interest of Nigeria at heart will do the needful by confirming Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu as the substantive chairman of EFCC in the overall national interest.
I believe strongly that the candidacy of Magu and his suitability for the substantive office of the EFCC chairman is one that should not be open to any debate being a subject matter justifiably requiring consensus.
I urge the distinguished members of the Senate to so hold.