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Tag: Ibrahim Magu

  • No going back on Ekpeyong, Oke’s arrest, says Magu

    No going back on Ekpeyong, Oke’s arrest, says Magu

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Wednesday said that he was not discouraged about Tuesday’s failed attempt to arrest former Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Ita Ekpeyong, and former head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

    He spoke with State House journalists after he attended the inauguration of the committee on recoveries by President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja.

    Stressing that no one is above the law; he said that the agency has concrete evidence against the former heads of DSS and NIA.

    He insisted that the law will take its course.

    Ekpeyong Ita is being investigated for offences bordering on alleged theft and diversion of public funds in the arms deal saga involving a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and other service chiefs who have since been arraigned.

    Oke, who was recently sacked by President Buhari for allegedly stashing away N13 billion in the Ikoyi apartment, is reported to have refused not to honour invitations for over three weeks.

    Armed guards of the NIA and DSS on Tuesday in Asokoro district of Abuja were reported to have prevented officials of the EFCC from arresting their former bosses residing in the area.

  • $43.4m NIA cash: EFCC never said Whistlebower has been paid

    $43.4m NIA cash: EFCC never said Whistlebower has been paid

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday said it never claimed that the whistleblower, who uncovered $43.4million in Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, has been paid.

    It clarified that it is “not even directly responsible for the payment of rewards to whistle blowers.”

    The agency also insisted that there was no controversy about the exact amount recovered in the operation which was streamed live.

    The clarifications were made by the Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement said: “Following publications in sections of the social media today, November 10, It has become necessary to clarify the statement credited to the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu regarding the status of the whistle blower in the Osborne Tower cash recovery. What Magu said at the 7th Session of the Council of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Vienna, Austria, was that citizens should be encouraged to embrace whistle blowing because of the incentives attached.

    “To illustrate this, he stated that the the gentleman who provided the information that triggered the huge recovery at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi was already a millionaire based on the incentive in the whistle blower policy where information providers are entitled to between 2.5 and 5 % of the recovered sum.

    Hear him, “We are currently working on the young man because this is just a man who has not seen one million Naira of his own before. So he is under counseling on how to make good use of the money and also the security implication. We don’t want anything bad to happen to him after taking delivery of his entitlement. He is a national pride”.

    “Magu never said that the young man has been paid. The Commission is not even directly responsible for the payment of rewards to whistle blowers.

    “There is also no controversy about the exact amount recovered in the operation which was streamed live, the first of its kind, and witnessed by the whistle blower, security at the Towers and representative of the agency which claimed ownership of the money.”

  • Magu in Austria, says EFCC recovered N738.9bn in two years

    Magu in Austria, says EFCC recovered N738.9bn in two years

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday in Austria said it recovered loots totaling N738.9 billion or $2.9 billion between May, 2015 and Oct. 20, 2017.

    Its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, stated this at the ongoing 7th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption holding in Vienna.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, gave account of Magu’s engagement in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In a presentation titled: “International Cooperation in Relation to Tecnical Assistance: The Nigerian Experience”, Magu said the sum was exclusive of smaller currencies in Durham, CRA and British Pound.

    He stated that the commission had made a lot of recoveries locally using the mechanism of the non-conviction based forfeiture provided under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    “Within this year alone, the commission recovered stolen assets running into several millions of US Dollars and billions in naira.

    “These include the sum of $43 million recovered from Deziani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum and N2 billion spread in seven accounts within three Nigerian banks laundered from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command Salary Accounts”, he explained.

    Magu, who was said to be a panelist at the Implementation Review Group attended by over 100 delegates, detailed the Nigerian efforts in asset recovery.

    He said the country had also made progress in specific cases related to Abacha loot, Malabu Oil, Diezani and associates, and the arms procurement scandal.

    These efforts, he said, cut across Switzerland, USA, UK, UAE, Jersey Island and Panama.
    In his recommendations, the EFCC boss sought improved coordination and cooperation among state parties in asset recovery.

    He said this could be done through the consideration and adoption of measures that would remove traditional barriers such as bank secrecy in line with Article 46(8) and dual Criminality Article 46(9) as well as simplify legal technicalities in the recovery and repatriation of stolen funds.

    He further sought measures to reduce cost of recovery of assets for developing countries and ensure speedy return of all stolen assets to victim states in line with the current resolution sponsored by Nigeria.

    He also called for sanction and prosecution of any financial institution that violates AML/CFT measures and the maintenance of a public register on beneficial ownership.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria has received global commendation for its doggedness in tracing and recovery of its solen assets, according to the commission’s spokesman.

    Uwujaren said the commendation came at a meeting between Magu and Dr Nassar Abaalkhail, the Head of International Collaboration, National Anti-Corruption Commission, Saudi Arabia.

    The meeting, which held on the sidelines of the conference, followed Magu’s presentation, Uwujaren said.

    He quoted Abaalkhail as saying that Nigeria’s efforts at loot recovery were remarkable.

    “From what I have heard, Nigeria’s effort at asset tracing is remarkable. Nigeria is indeed a role model for countries, including developed countries.

    “We have so much to learn from Nigeria”, he said.

    Uwujaren said the Iranian National Focal Point for the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, Dr Mohsen Mardal, also commended the Nigerian presentation.

    Similarly, the Commissioner, Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Agency, Ady Macauley, said the EFCC was not only “formidable, but a pride to the African States”.

    “My men were in Nigeria a fortnight ago to understudy your operations, I must confess, we have a lot to learn in investigation, prosecution and asset recovery”.

    NAN

  • EFCC to go after human traffickers – Magu

    EFCC to go after human traffickers – Magu

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has expressed the commission’s resolve to go after human traffickers.

    Magu said this when a delegation from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) visited him in Abuja.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who reported the visit in a statement, said the NAPTIP delegation was led by its Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli.

    Magu said the anti-graft agency had jurisdiction over human trafficking, which he said, was an offshoot of corruption.

    “We are prepared to go after human traffickers, because we strongly believe that it is an aspect of corruption, and corruption is the greatest enemy of Nigeria.

    “Corruption is the reason why young Nigerians are risking their lives walking through the Mediterranean up to Spain and other European countries in search of greener pasture.

    “It is a very sad situation, and we must change the trend by ensuring that we join hands to fight corruption, as this is the only solution to the ills militating against our country’s development,” he said.

    While calling for NAPTIP’s partnership in the fight against corruption, Magu assured Okah-Donli of the EFCC’s support in combating the increasing cases of “organ harvesting” involving Nigerians.

    “EFCC has an enormous task in the fight against corruption, and NAPTIP is also a stakeholder in the fight, so we also need your assistance and collaboration,” he said.

    Okah-Donli, who said the visit was part of the agency’s familiarisation efforts, used the opportunity to highlight NAPTIP’s strides in combating human trafficking in the country.

    According to her, the agency has busted a number of criminal activities, recorded 331 convictions since 2004, with various other ongoing cases at advance stages in courts.

    She added that NAPTIP had rescued many trafficked youths who were being rehabilitated and given a new lease of life.

    Okah-Donli said: “organ trafficking, which is now becoming a big business, is another form of human trafficking”.

    She said many youths were being lured into it and they become afraid to come out to tell their stories.

    The DG requested for assistance of the EFCC in confiscating assets of traffickers, and also in the area of training and developing its own academy. NAN

  • EFCC alleges plot to frame Magu

    EFCC alleges plot to frame Magu

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to frame its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, with ownership of assets abroad.

    Spokesman for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Wednesday that “shadowy interests at the receiving end” of the agency’s anti-corruption campaign were behind the alleged scheme.

    “Those behind the plot, which is believed to be part of a grand design to discredit the anti-graft czar, have allegedly finalised plans to name Magu as the owner of choice properties in exotic locations abroad.

    “The commission has information that the desperate cabal could take their gambit to the ridiculous extent of purchasing properties and registering them in the name of Ibrahim Magu to make the plot believable.

    “They are also prepared to sponsor some political hirelings who would come out openly to claim they have information about the property acquisitions.”

    According to him, the alleged plot is aimed at tainting the “unblemished integrity” of Magu to make him an object of public ridicule.

    “The commission, however, wishes to alert the public that Magu has no interest in any property whatsoever outside Nigeria.

    “He has neither bought a house anywhere outside Nigeria nor commissioned any person or corporate body to acquire property in his name or any name remotely linked to him.

    “The latest plot is coming many months after the commission similarly raised alarm over plots by some interests to pay humungous sums into Magu’s accounts with a view to releasing the information as evidence he had been compromised.”

    The EFCC spokesman quoted Magu as saying that the schemes would never make him lose focus in his assignment to defeat corruption in the country.

    “They can only irritate me, but they can’t stop me because all men of goodwill in this country know the sacrifices that we are making to improve the fortunes of our nation.
    “Those who assume that I have properties abroad, can go and claim them”, Magu was quoted as saying. (NAN)

  • Fight against corruption becoming tougher – Magu

    Fight against corruption becoming tougher – Magu

    The EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has said that the fight against corruption is becoming tougher, urging all Nigerians, including children, to use every weapon at their disposal to fight it.

    Magu said this in Lagos on Friday during the sensitisation forum on the plan to launch “EFCC – Creative Youth Initiative Against Corruption (CYIAC) Corruption Busters”.

    He said the fight against corruption was not personal and therefore called on Nigerians, including those in Diaspora to join hands in the fight, stressing that the commission was already mobilising Nigerians outside the country for support.

    “The fight against corruption is becoming tougher. We cannot fight it alone. We want to mobilise everyone in the fight; the more people in the fight, the better.

    “I am determined in the fight against corruption. I urge other Nigerians not to get exhausted. Don’t expect anyone to thank you for fighting corruption. It is a thankless job.

    “Whatever weapons you have, use it against corruption. Use your strategic thinking; the fight must go on with or without me, it is not a personal thing.

    “The press have a lot to do in this fight. If they do more, the battle would be half solved,’’ Magu said.

    The Coordinator of CYIAC, Ms Foluke Michael, said the corruption busters would be launched on Dec. 9 to mark the UN International Anti-Corruption Day.

    Michael said that her platform was EFCC’s preventive project, stressing that the forum was a sensitisation programme targeted at the children, youths and women meeting global goals by 2030.

    She said that the CYIAC was launched in 2016 with the pilot scheme tagged; ‘My New Nigeria; Free from Corruption’, stressing that 2017 edition would kick-start with online campaign to sensitise children, youth and women.

    “The online campaign will be followed by the launch of CYIAC APP and nationwide registration portal on Nov. 1 for participants between ages 9 and 14 for category 1, and 15-25 years for category 2.

    “Participants will also be required to submit essays, short stories or creative ideas online based on the theme: `Imagine the World free from corruption’ between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15,’’ she said.

    Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise and Chairman, a steering committee for Movement Against Corruption said both organisations had endorsed CYIAC as a vehicle to reach out to children, youths and women.

    “The idea to involve young people in advocacy and fight against corruption is a movement in the right direction.

    “Corruption must be destroyed from the root in Nigeria if the sufferings of the masses will be alleviated,’’ she said.

    Some Youth Corps members, civil society groups and secondary school students in Lagos selected as CYIAC Ambassadors using arts, painting, dance and music to speak against corruption, were part of the occasion.

  • Ekiti Assembly adopts report indicting Fayemi for alleged graft

    Ekiti Assembly adopts report indicting Fayemi for alleged graft

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly has adopted a report from the Office of the Auditor General, which indicted the administrations of former governors Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi for alleged misappropriation of funds.

    The report detailed the Auditor-General’s queries, findings and recommendations on alleged graft and other irregularities during Oni’s and Fayemi’s administrations.

    The Assembly is also pushing for a jail term for the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, for arresting and detaining the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo and Accountant General, Mrs. Yemisi Owolabi.

    Oni has declared intent to run for governor next year; Fayemi has not declared an interest but is believed to be under pressure to join the race.

    At their sitting yesterday, the lawmakers claimed that one of the firms engaged by the Fayemi administration allegedly evaded tax of N130 million. They also claimed that Oni allegedly “misused” $4,000 sent by Ekiti indigenes in the Diaspora for a purpose they did not state.

    Deputy Chief Whip, who doubles as chairman of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, Mr. Dayo Akinleye, presented the report indicting Fayemi’s and Oni’s administrations for House adoption.

    He said: “Today, we have presented a report of the auditors to the House. It is the first ever in the history of Nigeria and the Southwest. Before now, all auditors’ reports were swept under the carpet, but we are presenting the report to the House to show that we have nothing to hide.

    “A lot of issues were raised by accountants-general and we have looked into them and made appropriate recommendations on them.

    “In the report we presented, a lot of issues were raised on the alleged misappropriation of public funds by the administrations of ex-governors Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni.

    “While some of the issues are based on alleged misuse of public funds, many were based on improper documentation.

    “In the 2015 report, as given by the auditor-general about the Fayemi’s administration, one of the issues raised, which relates to misuse of funds, is the one about the evasion of tax by one firm, which was to the tune of N130 million…”

  • Magu calls for bottom-up anti-corruption initiatives

    Magu calls for bottom-up anti-corruption initiatives

    Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), has called for anti-corruption initiatives at the grassroots level.

    Magu made the call on Tuesday while receiving an honorary award of excellence from a delegation of the National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS ) which visited him in Abuja.

    He said in a statement by EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, that there was need for education to be in the vanguard of teaching and awareness-creation on anti-corruption as a proactive measure to tackling the monster.

    The call came amid suggestions by anti-corruption campaigners that state and local governments are aloof in the ongoing anti-graft war.

    Mr Peter Adeyemi, Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), emphasised this point at an anti-corruption dialogue in Abuja in March.

    Adeyemi had said there was no evidence to show that the state and local governments were in support of the Federal Government’s war against graft.
    “If we are seriously fighting corruption as a nation, we must ensure that all strata of government keys in,” he said.

    “The invitation to curb corruption in Nigeria is open to everyone.

    “It is my desire for the Nigerian youth and indeed, everyone to partner with EFCC in this fight against corruption.

    “The celebration of corruption must stop as corruption is evil. We must join forces to combat this societal ill,” Magu said.

    The leader of the delegation, Jamilu Hassan of the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, said the award was in recognition of Magu’s outstanding contribution to the war against corruption.

    NAN

  • Nigerians aided EFCC to recover billions of Naira, says Magu

    Nigerians aided EFCC to recover billions of Naira, says Magu

    THE Whistleblowing Policy of the Federal Government has helped in the recovery of cash running into billions, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu has said.

    Speaking in Abuja yesterday at the unveiling of “Corruption Anonymous” of the Civil Society Whistleblower Support Initiative of the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Magu said the commission has recovered cash in various currencies.

    He listed the recovered money as: N527,643,500; $53,222,747; £21,222,890 and Euro 547,730.

    The EFCC boss explained that the commission has put in place an enabling environment, which encourages people to report crime and corruption.

    Magu added that majority of those who gave out information did it out of patriotism and not for the reward.

    He said: “At the EFCC, we have created an environment where those who have information about corrupt practices can approach the commission to provide information, confident that the information they give us will be put into effective use. Moreover, since the commencement of the whistle-blower policy, we have received hundreds of actionable tips that led to the following cash recoveries: N527,643,500; $53,222,747; GBP 21,222,890 and Euro 547,730.

    “Through this window, we have seen many Nigerians, whose motivation was not just to benefit from the recoveries, as promised by the Federal Government, but the satisfaction of having to see that what was ill-gotten has been recovered for the good of all.

    “Those in this category were motivated by their sense of justice and overriding national interest, not the financial reward. We urge more Nigerians to borrow a leaf from these patriotic individuals.”

    The EFCC boss added: “On our part, we have always treated every tip referred to us with strict sense of responsibility, bearing in mind that such undertaking on the part of the whistle-blower is usually a matter of trust and even risk. At the same time, we have been careful not to be used by mischief-makers, who would want to abuse this process. Let me reiterate that just as there is consequence for corruption, there will be consequence for those who want to take advantage of this noble initiative in the fight against corruption to create mischief.”

    On the unveiling of “Corruption Anonymous”, Magu said the project will help in strengthening the whistleblower policy of the government.

    Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy Mr. Chido Onumah said the group had for long been deeply worried by the growing damaging effects of corruption and saw the whistle-blower policy of the Federal Government as opportunity to weigh in for a corruption-free society

    Whistleblowing, he added, has provided a fresh impetus to the anti-graft war.

    Reeling out the gains from the whistle blowing policy, Onumah said: “It has led to the recovery of staggering amounts of looted funds, thus proving to be an effective and reliable mechanism for combating the one singular vice that seems to have permanently arrested the development of Nigeria since independence.

    Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said it was the duty of the state to provide every enabling environment for the citizens to report crime and corruption.

    Besides, he said the government must also demonstrate the willingness to deal with crime when it’s reported, and this he said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had demonstrated.

  • Senate panel invites seven banks’ MDs over freezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    Senate panel invites seven banks’ MDs over freezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    THE Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the managing directors of some banks over the freezing of the accounts of former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

    The committee also invited  Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over the issue.

    The committee’s chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, gave the order at a sitting of his committee yesterday at the hearing of a petition by the former first lady.

    The petition brought on behalf of Mrs. Jonathan by Granville Abibo (SAN) claimed that the EFCC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had at various times “unleashed terror, dehumanising, degrading and despicable treatment on her and her blood relations without justification”.

    The committee was told that the accounts in which the former first lady’s funds are trapped include that of Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development Investment Company and Transocean Property and Investment Ltd.

    Also, the account of her non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Women for Change Development Initiative, A. Aruera Foundation as well as Finchley Top Homes Ltd and the former first lady’s salary account were frozen, according to the petitioner.

    “The accounts of her siblings, Innocent Nyegerefaka, Mohammed Oba and Esther Oba have all been frozen by EFCC without any court order – all because they are blood relations of Dame Patience Jonathan,” the petition reads.

    The EFCC chairman was absent at the hearing.

    In a letter sent to the committee, the anti-graft agency said Magu was out of the country and would be back today.

    The committee set tomorrow for the EFCC boss to appear before the committee.

    Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer also informed the committee that his client had resolved her differences with the NDLEA, hence they would like to strike out the agency’s name off the petition before the Senate.

    He also old the committee that the former First Lady’s accounts and that of her relations were frozen without any court order by the EFCC.

    He lamented that the action culminated in the death of Lazarus Eware, who is Mrs. Jonathan’s brother.

    He said: “The immediate elder brother to Patience Jonathan, Mr. Lazarus Eware, died as a result of unfortunate maltreatment of him by EFCC as he could no longer cope in the face of this repeated humiliation, terror attacks and financial handicap.

    “He could no longer meet up with his responsibilities of his family, including children’s school fees and medical bills.

    “As we speak, his lifeless body is still lying in a mortuary yet to be buried. The only offence said to have been committed by him is that he was the elder brother to Dame Patience Jonathan.”