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Tag: Ibrahim Magu

  • I will appeal, says plaintiff Ojaomo

    I will appeal, says plaintiff Ojaomo

    A lawyer, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, yesterday said he would file an application next week against the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja on the fate of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

    He said he went to the high court to seek a declaration that the Senate could not use a security report by the Department of State Services (DSS) to disqualify Magu because such a report is not one of the requirements for confirming an EFCC chairman.

    He said he asked the court to declare that the Senate has the right to confirm the EFCC chairman without going beyond the provisions of the EFCC Act.

    He said he insisted before the court that the security report upon which the Senate based its rejection of Magu was extraneous to EFCC Act.

    Ojaomo, who spoke with our correspondent, last night, asked Nigerians to read the judgment in a holistic manner, insisted that the Senate misinterpreted the judgment.

    He said: “Although I have not received the Certified True Copy (CTC) , I will go to the Court of Appeal next week. Anybody can assume any interpretation of the judgment but it must be read in a holistic manner.

    “The security report, which was used to disqualify Magu, was one of the grounds of my application before the Federal High Court. I submitted before the court that a security report was not one of the conditions in EFCC Act for the confirmation of Magu or any EFCC chairman.

    “The EFCC Act specifically mentioned the requirements for the confirmation of the EFCC chairman and I said the Senate cannot go outside the Act by using a security report to disqualify Magu. I said the Senate cannot go beyond the provisions of the EFCC Act. The question was resolved in my favour.

    “The Act does not say there should be security report in confirming any appointee as EFCC chairman. I asked the court to declare that the Senate cannot because of a mere allegation (a security report), which has not been proven to disqualify Magu.

    “I also maintained and agreed that the Senate has the statutory powers to confirm any nominee for the office of EFCC chairman but the confirmation cannot go outside the EFCC Establishment Act. Which means, the President cannot go outside the Act to appoint a sergeant as EFCC chairman. And the court agreed with me on this.”

    Responding to a question, Ojaomo added: “The only aspect I disagreed with the court is the question of locus. I am going to the Court of Appeal against the judgment on the issue of locus.

    “As a Nigerian and a tax payer, I know that the EFCC is a public institution and I have a duty as a Nigerian to protect the institution. And the money recovered by the EFCC belongs to Nigerians. So, I have the locus to file the suit.”

  • Magu: I don’t expect judgment to stand – Sagay

    Magu: I don’t expect judgment to stand – Sagay

    Senior lawyers yesterday expressed different views on the status of Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following yeaterday’s judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Justice J. T. Tsoho said the senate acted within the law when it screened and rejected Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman.

    Prof Itse Sagay SAN, Seyi Sowemimo SAN, Festus Keyamo SAN and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Vice President Monday Onyekachi Ubani offered their thoughts pending when they read the full judgment.

    Sagay said: “I don’t expect that the judgment will have an effect on Ibrahim Magu’s status as Acting EFCC Chairman. I don’t expect that there’s anything externally that is going to affect Magu’s position.

    “I don’t know whether the judge considered Section 171 of the Constitution which even allows the President to appoint heads of agencies like Magu’s agency without any reference to the Senate. That is already there, so I don’t know what was brought to the court’s attention. When we see the full judgment we will be able to express our opinion.

    Sowemimo observed, among others, that in the event that the ruling includes a court order removing Magu from office, he would probably seek a stay of execution and launch an appeal.

    Keyamo noted, among others, the law did not prescribe a time limit for Magu to remain in an acting capacity.

    Keyamo said: The fact that the law has not circumscribed the amount of time or the time period that someone can act as the head of an agency, it would mean therefore that I see no legal problem at all in Ibrahim Magu continuing to act as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, there is no legal impediment at all.”

    But Ubani advised the Executive to “respect and obey the judgement of the

    Federal High Court unless they have secured a contrary judgement from the appellate courts.”

  • Buhari departs for Addis Ababa to attend AU Summit

    Buhari departs for Addis Ababa to attend AU Summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

    The president left the Presidential Villa, Abuja, via the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Addis Ababa two hours after observing the weekly Friday’s Juma’at prayer.

    The President alongside with hundreds of other Muslim faithful performed the two Raka’at Juma’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, had on January 25, in a statement disclosed that the highlight of the President’s engagements during the visit would be his statements under the historic theme for the AU Summit, namely: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”

    “This is the first time in the 54-year history of the AU that anti-corruption will be made a theme of the gathering of the regional leaders,’’ the statement said.

    It would be recalled that, on July 4, 2017, during the 29th Session of the AU, African leaders unanimously endorsed President Buhari to champion the fight against corruption on the continent.

    The endorsement was in recognition of his personal commitment and widely acclaimed anti-graft drive at the domestic level.

    On July 25, 2017, the President, in a letter to President Alpha Conde of Guinea, who is also the out-going AU Chairperson, formally accepted his nomination to lead members of the AU on this crucial crusade against a veritable socio-economic vice that is anti-development.

    While thanking his colleagues for the honour, Buhari reiterated his “commitment to contribute towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent.’’

    Adesina said that apart from anti-corruption, other issues lined for consideration by African leaders and their delegations would include peace and security (transnational terrorism). institutional reforms of the continental body and free movement of persons.

    Also Read: Buhari signs eight bills into law

    Others are climate change, trade; aviation, education, gender and development.

    He said President Buhari would also hold bilateral meetings with some of his colleagues on issues of common interests.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau and the Minister of State (Aviation), Hadi Sirika, are in the President’s delegation to the summit.

    Others are the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and the  Ag. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    NAN

  • FIRS nets N4.03tr in 2017

    FIRS nets N4.03tr in 2017

    …collects N720bn more than 2016 collection

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS ) said it collected a total of N4.03 trillion in 2017.

    This figure represents 82.38% of government set target of N4.89 trillion for the last year.

    A statement signed by Wahab Gbadamosi, Head, Communications and Servicom Department of the Service said “FIRS’ collection of N4.03 trillion is N720 billion (22%) more than the 2016 total collection figure of N3.305 trillion. The 2017 collection performance exceeded the 2016 collection performance of 78.75%.”

    Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler was quoted to have said “with the support of the National Assembly, and that of other stakeholders, FIRS was able to collect over N4 trillion in 2017. This is an increase of over 20 per cent relative to our collection in 2016. We are hopeful that going forward, FIRS will be able to fund this country through taxation.

    Going back memory lane, the FIRS Chairman recalled that when he was the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS Executive Chairman, the Oba of Lagos played an important role in tax collection. Apart from supporting LIRS morally, Fowler recalled that Oba Akiolu mandated the White cap chiefs to accompany LIRS officials to key markets and most parts of Lagos to sensitise the people on tax collection.

    The FIRS Chairman shed light on FIRS’ collection in 2017: “we all recall that beginning from the second half of 2014, there has been a sustained decline in the global prices of oil. Oil Revenue Generated by FIRS in 2014 – 2.45 Trillion; Oil Revenue Generated in 2015 – N1.29 Trillion; FIRS Oil Revenue Generated in 2016 – N1.16 Trillion; FIRS Oil Revenue Generated in 2017 – N1.52 Trillion.”

    This trend he said had adverse effect on the ability of oil dependent countries to meet their development objectives. “For us in Nigeria, the decline in receipts from oil revenue and the concomitant decline in accruals to States from the Federation Account has placed many States in a financial quandary to the point where basic obligations such as the payment of employee wages has become a perennial challenge. This is not the first time Nigeria will experience economic slow-down as a result of fluctuations in global oil prices.”

    Fowler noted that the FIRS under his watch “hopes to ensure that we act differently this time around by looking beyond oil as the mainstay of our economy. By putting our hands together in contributing to our set goal, I am confident that we will surpass our past results and we’ll be well on our way to the future we hope to achieve.”

    Fowler noted that though collection increased by 20 per cent relative to 2016, the Cost of Collection went down to 2.49 per cent in 2017 relative to the 2.60 per cent cost of collection in 2016 and   2.62 in 2015. This, the FIRS Chairman noted, attests to the growing efficiency in collection by the Service and to which the embrace of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) tools contributed.

    On his part, the Oba of Lagos noted that 60 or 70 per cent of FIRS collection comes from Lagos, to this end he said he will be sending a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki to draw his attention to the 1851 treaty, which the colonial government signed with Oba Akintoye: that three per cent of all taxes collected in Lagos will go to the Oba, while 2 per cent of all exports will go to Oba Akintoye. “While I am not asking that this be paid to me now, it could be paid to the Lagos State Government”.

    The Oba who said he lives by example stated that he pays as much as N350 million in tax every year.

    Nigeria he said now needs good governance that will deliver development to the people. “FIRS has collected N4 trillion and they will collect more in the futures. The legacy that Tunde Fowler has made in Lagos is still felt but you have more work to do,

    Lagos does not discriminate against anybody just as the state will not accept any injustice from any quarters.”

    He enjoined Senators and members of the House of Reps to dialogue with and give, President Muhammadu Buhari a chance as he loves Nigeria. He also called on the federal parliamentarians to support the anti-graft war by confirming the Economic and Financial Commission Chairman, Ibrahim Magu. Nigeria, the monarch assured will not break.

    The FIRS contributed N2.78 trillion to the Federation Accounts. Representing 99.5% of the target for 2017 (7.5% higher than 2016 performance).

    An analysis of the collection performance indicates that non-oil accounted for 63% while oil tax accounted for 38% of the total collection. Stamp Duty recorded the most increase in performance with 94%.

    The achievements recorded by the FIRS from the administrative and operational initiatives introduced by the Executive Chairman, Tunde Fowler in 2015 and 2016 were designed to reposition the agency.

    The 2018 Ease of Doing Business report, released by the World Bank Group late last year, shows that Nigeria moved up 11 places in terms of the ease of paying taxes. This contributed to Nigeria’s movement by 24 points/places in the (from 169th to 124th position in the Ease of Doing business globally.

    The initiatives which directly impacted on business owners, implemented by the Service with the support of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council ( PEBEC ) contributed to Nigeria’s upward movement in global ease of doing business ranking.

  • Buhari presides over first FEC meeting of 2018

    Buhari presides over first FEC meeting of 2018

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and cabinet ministers in attendance.

    The meeting is the first this year and has in attendance the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Head of Service, Mrs Winifrey Oyo-Ita.

    Others attending the meeting included the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.

    Read Also: Herdsmen crisis: Buhari orders IGP Idris relocate to Benue

    The heads of agencies of the Federal Ministry of Transportation are expected to brief the council.

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, was also at the venue of the meeting.

    NAN

  • EFCC grants NFIU autonomy

    EFCC grants NFIU autonomy

    Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu Wednesday told the Senate that the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has been granted autonomy.

    Magu who appeared before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to defend the performance of 2017 budget of his agency promised to submit details of recovered loots by the agency to the committee.

    He told the committee that starting from January 1, 2018, NFIU would begin operation as independent organization.

    The Egmont Group suspended Nigeria as a result of alleged interference of the EFCC in the workings of the NFIU.

    It asked the country to amend its law establishing the NFIU to make it independent or be prepared to be expelled by January 2018.

    Magu told the committee that the agency has a separate budget from that of the EFCC.

    He said, “We have allowed NFIU to go. They are operationally autonomy independent of EFCC.  They will be independent of EFCC. We have given them financial autonomy. N800 million was proposed for the agency in 2018 budget.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi said that the N800 million proposed for NFIU is not enough for the body to conduct it work.

    Utazi noted that “N800 million cannot go anywhere if you want them to work, they need to be properly funded and equipped.”

    He also requested for pay roll of the 96 workers under the NFIU from the head of the agency.

    Utazi insisted that his committee need to know the work force of NFIU.

  • It is cheaper to prevent corruption than fight it – Magu

    It is cheaper to prevent corruption than fight it – Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said on Thursday it is cheaper to prevent corruption than to fight it.

    Magu stated this during the Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Programme organised for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and aviation sector workers Abuja.

    He said section six of the EFCC Act required the Commission to, in addition to its enforcement responsibilities, take measures to prevent economic and financial crimes.

    Magu said part of such preventive measures was an aggressive sensitisation campaign, public enlightenment and education in both public and private sectors.

    The essence, according to him, is to improve workplace consciousness of corruption and its corrosive effects and encourage workers to embrace them.

    “The EFCC alone couldn’t fight and win the war against corruption in Nigeria.

    “I would like to seize this opportunity to remind us that, corruption affects all of us.

    “We must resolve to fight it to a standstill in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s admonition to us that, “If we don`t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

    “We must not allow that to happen, for the sake of our children and the unborn generation,’’ the EFCC chief said.

    Magu said the airport, as the most important gateway into the country, was strategic in many ways.

    He said since airport was foreigners’ first contact with Nigeria, the impression they formed about the country would be largely informed by the conduct of aviation professionals.

    NAN

  • EFCC confirms attack on Magu’s house

    EFCC confirms attack on Magu’s house

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has confirmed an attack by unknown gunmen on a property belonging to its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    In a statement on Wednesday evening, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the attackers murdered a police sergeant guarding the property located in Karshi, a suburb of Abuja.

    “The property, a farmhouse located in Karshi, a suburb of Abuja, was attacked by unknown gunmen at about 10 p.m. on Dec. 12, 2017 .

    Read Also:Unknown gunmen invade Magu’s house, kill policeman

    “The unidentified men murdered a police sergeant on duty. The incident was the second such attack on the same farmhouse,” he said.

    Wilson said the commission would not speculate on the motive of the attack.

    He, however, stated that the EFCC under the leadership of Magu would not be deterred in its mission to rid the country of corruption.

    Read: EFCC to appeal Justice Nganjiwa’s acquittal

  • ICYMI: Unknown gunmen invade Magu’s house, kill policeman

    ICYMI: Unknown gunmen invade Magu’s house, kill policeman

    Unknown gunmen on Tuesday night invaded the bungalow farmhouse of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and killed a policeman.

    It was learnt that the gunmen stormed the farmhouse in Karshi in the Federal Capital Territory at about 10pm and exchanged fire with the policemen on sentry.

    A police Sergeant was hit and he died instantly.

    This is the second time that the same the house will be attacked by unknown elements.

    The last 10 months had been tough for Magu because of his refusal to bow to pressure from some high-profile suspects and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

    Following threats, security was beefed up for Magu and his immediate family leading to the deployment of policemen to the uncompleted bungalow in Karshi.

    Some suspected elements had also been prowling the family’s house in the Borno State capital and issuing threats to the woman.

    This latest attack came barely 48 hours after Magu said the anti-corruption will be a do-or-die affair.

    Speaking on Monday after a walk to mark the anti-corruption Day, Magu said: “For those of us on this side; in the anti-corruption agencies of government, in the media, and civil society, the dagger is drawn and I believe I am speaking the mind of everyone on this side that we intend to neither retreat nor surrender in our noble intention to cure our country of the evils of corruption.

    “For us as a country, the fight against corruption is a ‘do or die’ affair; we have to win the battle or die trying.

    Details later…

  • Days of impunity gone – Magu

    Days of impunity gone – Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said on Monday the days of impunity are over.

    He urged Nigerians to unite against corruption for sustainable development in the country.

    Magu, who made the submissions in a keynote address after a walk to mark the 2017 International Anti-Corruption Day, said Nigerians must resist corruption “so as not to risk economic growth being slowed and prosperity muzzled.

    The walk which took-off from the EFCC Head Office, Wuse 2, Abuja enroute Unity Fountain to Area 11 junction, has as its theme: “United Against Corruption for Development Peace and Security”.

    Participants, who moved amidst singing and dancing carried banners and placards such as “Say No To Corruption,” “Corruption Kills,” Corruption, Our Greatest Enemy,” “Kill Corruption Now,” “Do not be silent, blow the whistle to fight corruption” and “Let us make Nigeria Great Again.”

    They also had Red Cards boldly inscribed on their ‘T Shirts,” to symbolically send corruption out of Nigeria.

    The walk which held simultaneously in all the cities where the EFCC has offices, featured invited stakeholders from diverse sectors including the  Public Compliant Commission, Nigeria Police, Independence Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) organized Labour, Ministry of Justice, staff of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, youth organizations, civil society organizations and African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRIMIL).

    The highpoint of the event was Magu’s address in which he urged Nigerians not to give up the fight against corruption.

    A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren quoted Magu as saying that Nigerians had for long borne the pangs of corruption.

    He said corruption had allowed diversion and conversion of public funds into private pockets and accounts.

    He added: “It is high time Nigerians are united against corruption for sustainable development, peace and security.

    “Our country has witnessed a torrent of the adverse effects of corruption and we need to kill the monster of corruption before it kills our country.

    “I will never give up in making sure that corruption is completely eradicated in Nigeria. The days of impunity are gone.”

    Also speaking, the Auditor-General of the Federation, Anthony Mkpe Ayine who participated in the walk,  urged Nigerians to own the fight against corruption because it had led to the decay of various sectors of the nation’s economy.