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Tag: Magu

  • Who is afraid of Magu?

    Who is afraid of Magu?

    •The Senate’s delay in granting the EFCC boss a substantive status raises questions

    Ibrahim Mustafa Magu was nominated Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 11, last year. However, he is yet to be screened by the Senate as stipulated in the Constitution. This is disturbing, especially as no reason has been adduced for the tardiness. It is obvious that the War Against Corruption received fresh impetus when Magu took over as EFCC chair.
    Unlike the situation during the Jonathan administration when the commission appeared to be in a coma, the Magu leadership seems to have aligned well with President Muhammadu Buhari who made the anti-graft war a major plank of his Change Agenda. Many of the political office holders in the last government are being called to account, and many have seen that the EFCC boss is in no mood to joke with his assignment.
    A law-making chamber acting in consonance with the mood of the nation would have quickly approved Magu’s nomination. The depletion of national resources has been largely traced to diversion by those entrusted with our common patrimony; those entrusted with the responsibility of managing it. Magu understood that, unless such stolen wealth is retrieved, it would be difficult for the current administration to fulfil its promises to the people and restructure the economy.
    It is not surprising that the Senate has failed to play its part in this wise. It has proved in many ways that it does not share the yearnings of Nigerians for prudence, accountability and transformation. We had expected that lawmakers, being direct representatives of the people, would watch out for their interests, check excesses of the other branches of government as well as support all measures to lift the economy out of the woods. But, rather, torn apart by selfish considerations, the Senate has been bickering unduly, and is doing all to boost the personal interests of members, oblivious of the state of the nation. It has ordered exotic cars for its members, chosen to delay bills that would empower the youth and sustain the aged.
    It is unfortunate that self-serving bills such as the one designed to seize control of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal were given accelerated treatment by the two chambers of the National Assembly, while the passage of a Medium Term Economic Framework that would aid the early passage of the 2017 Budget is being given the short shrift. There is a suggestion that public hearings might be instituted before the terms of the framework could be considered and passed. While we could appreciate the point that the executive did a shoddy job in preparing such an important document, we are not unaware of the political undertone that necessitated the muscle flexing. A more sensitive and considerate lawmaking body would have swung into action negotiating the terms with the executive, with a view to setting things in order rather than play to the gallery by shouting at the roof top about the Presidency’s inadequacies.
    The delay in confirmation of Mr Magu’s appointment is an eloquent testimony to the elite conspiracy against the fight against corruption. We agree with the President that corruption is bound to fight back, and this is what is playing out in the upper legislative chamber. Nigerians must rise up and form the bulwark against this unhealthy plot against decency.
    However, we also call on the Federal Government to be more transparent in managing the process. At the moment, no one knows what has been retrieved from the enemies of state and how such loots are being kept. Nigerians deserve to know if they are to partner with the government to make the war a success.
    We commend non-governmental organisations such as the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), among others, that have taken the position of the Nigerian people in mounting pressure on the Senate to confirm Mr Magu’s nomination. He is eminently qualified and has demonstrated sufficient capacity to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians.

  • Activists to Senate: confirm Magu as EFCC chairman

    Activists to Senate: confirm Magu as EFCC chairman

    Anti-corruption groups yesterday urged the Senate to expedite action on the  confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter for Magu’s confirmation is before the Senate.

    According to the coalition, Magu’s confirmation will give the anti-corruption fight the impetus to sustain  President Muhammadu  Buhari’s administration’s agenda to curtail impunity in governance.

    Having a substantive chairman for EFCC will be in compliance with Article 6(2) of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) of which Nigeria is a signatory, they added.

    The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders(CACOL); the Civil Society Network Against Corruption(CSNAC); Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ);  Network on Police Reform in Nigeria(NOPRIN); Publish What You Pay(PWYP) Nigeria  and the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), authorised the statement signed by Debo  Adeniran(CACOL); Lanre Suraju (CSNAC); Adetokunbo Mumuni (SERAP); David Ugolor (ANEEJ); Okey Nwanguma (NOPRIN); Faith Nwadishi (PWYP) and Oluajo Babatunde (CTA).

    The groups said: “ “This delay by the Senate sends a wrong signal of deliberate attempt by the Senate to frustrate the anti-corruption fight or at best, exert political pressure on the EFCC and force it into some compromise with the Senate.

    “Having reconvened from recess almost two months ago, the group therefore calls on the Senate to treat Mr. Magu’s confirmation as substantive executive chairman of the EFCC as a matter of top priority and of urgent national interest.

    “We also call on President Buhari to use the ongoing second review mechanism of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption(UNCAC), which Nigeria is undergoing to send a strong message to the international community that Nigeria is genuinely committed to the fight against corruption.”

    They said Magu is qualified to lead the anti-graft commission.

    They said: “Section 2 of the EFCC Act says ‘there shall be a chairman who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the commission, and who shall not be below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of police. He is to be saddled with the responsibility of running the anti-crime commission.

    “The groups verily believe that Mr. Magu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, meets and exceeds this requirement, and therefore his confirmation as EFCC Chairman without further delay will give the anti-corruption fight the boost it needs to end the culture of impunity and systemic corruption in Nigeria.”

    The groups explained why the confirmation of Magu was necessary at this critical time.

    The statement added: The security of tenure for the leadership of the anti-corruption agencies saddled with the task of tackling the debilitating effects of corruption is a globally recognized principle for guaranteeing the independence of anti-corruption agencies.

    “ Fighting corruption without the basic guarantee of security of tenure for the head of anti-corruption agencies as has become the trend in the recent past in Nigeria is one of the major limitations of the fight against the scourge of corruption in Nigeria and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has a duty to reverse this trend.

    “The guarantee of security of tenure of anti-corruption agencies officials is at the root of the independence, effective functioning and freedom from undue influence of anti-corruption agencies as prescribed by Article 6(2) of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) of which Nigeria is a signatory.

    “Anything short of such a guarantee renders the fight against corruption ineffectual, susceptible to political manipulation and compromises the independence of the anti-corruption agencies.”

    They said Magu deserves to be confirmed because he has changed the face of anti-graft war in the country.

    The statement added: “The  EFCC has of late stepped up the fight against acts of corruption and abuse of public trust as exemplified in the tracking of those remotely and directly connected with the misapplication of monies meant to fight Boko Haram insurgency.

    “The commission has also ensured the confiscation of the properties suspected to have been acquired from proceeds of crime linked to politically-exposed persons as well as the investigation and prosecution of alleged owners.

    “Lack of a substantive head with a secured tenure has been a major set back in all these efforts.”

  • Looted funds: EFCC will arrest more suspects, says Magu

    Looted funds: EFCC will arrest more suspects, says Magu

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu yesterday asked Nigerians to expect more arrest and trial  of  corruption suspects and recovery of looted funds.

    He also said that enforcement alone cannot win the war against corruption, identifying prevention as an effective and necessary weapon that must also be employed in conjunction with enforcement.

    He disclosed that a new campaign, “EFCC Women Against Corruption initiative”will be launched in November by President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Hajiya Aisha.

    Magu made the submissions in an address in Abuja at the “Unveiling of the EFCC creative youths initiative against corruption”.

    He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, as we know, the people most impacted by the mindless looting of our commonwealth, are women and children.  These are the most vulnerable in our society and must not only be protected, but armed with the necessary tools to fight a sustainable and winnable war against corruption.

    “Our children must see that there is a future away from corruption and be encouraged to take that path of honour, moral rectitude and creative employment of their talents, which had been shunned by so many of our corrupt leaders.

    “Let me clarify that EFCC will continue to vigorously enforce its mandate alongside engaging in preventive initiatives such as this.

    “Therefore, even as we appeal to the old and the young to shun corruption and other forms of fraud, expect to see more investigation, more arrests, more trials, more convictions and more recovery of stolen assets.”

    He assured the audience that the commission will do its best to prevent corruption in the country.

    The EFCC sought the support of all Nigerians to make the war against graft successful.

    He added: ”We are the first to recognise that enforcement alone cannot win the war against corruption.

    “Prevention is an effective and necessary weapon that must be employed in conjunction with enforcement and there is no group of Nigerians better equipped to wield that weapon than the youths.

    “Let us bear in mind that the task to rid the nation of the corruption cankerworm cannot be left to EFCC and other anticorruption agencies alone.

    “We are all stakeholders in the war and cannot let the future generations down; it is for their future that we must sacrifice our today.

    “Let us work together for our dear nation; let us join hands to build for our children the future we desire.”

    Magu praised Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka for championing the initiative to promote preventive action against corruption among the youths.

    He said: “I  really have to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Wole Soyinka, whose brainchild this Initiative is.  When I met him in January, he offered me this unique platform to carry forward the prevention mandate of the commission.

    “ I am really happy to see that we have reached this stage of the programme and with the support of all stakeholders, I am confident that the Initiative will definitely expand the anti-corruption mandate using as vehicle, the innate creativity of our young ones.

    ?”That is the essence of this Initiative, which is a forerunner of sorts to the EFCC Women Against Corruption initiative, that will be rolled out by the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, in November.

    “That project will bring on board the anticorruption train, Nigerian women from all walks of life.”

    END

     

     

     

  • Anti-corruption war not personal, says Magu

    Anti-corruption war not personal, says Magu

    The  Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu yesterday said the war against corruption is not personal but about the development and survival of Nigeria.

    He also said despite the resistance to anti-graft war by a few elements, most Nigerians are with the agency.

    He said he is determined to crush corruption and rid the nation of the indulgence.

    Magu made the submissions in Abuja at a media workshop for journalists covering the EFCC

    He said: “The anti-corruption war is a business for everybody, we are all stakeholders. It is about Nigeria, it is about the development and progress of this country. The war is not personal or any institution.

    “From our achievements so far, you could see some impunity. It is our portion to put an end to this impunity. We have about 180million Nigerians, everybody has a part to play and our part is to check corruption in Nigeria.

    “The evil of corruption affects everybody so it is our duty to put our house in order. It is not only for us (EFCC) as we cannot claim monopoly of knowledge of fighting corruption, everybody is a stakeholder, if we work together, we are going to record tremendous success.”

    Magu said he was not averse to criticisms and urged critics not to pamper him.

    He said: “You can’t expect everybody to key in because some people don’t believe corruption is wrong, you should not expect 100 percent acceptance but I’m sure a greater number of Nigerians are with us.

    “I prefer to hear the wrong ones (criticism), I don’t expect to be pampered, when I’m wrong, tell me. It is easier for you to correct my wrong doings so I want to hear the wrongs so that we can correct them, there’s nothing like perfection.

    He said his acting capacity role will not affect his performance.

    Magu added:  “No. The fact that I’m acting gives me more determination. When I’m there, I’ll crush it (corruption), I will fight it.

    “That’s why sometimes I put EFCC on 24 hours basis so that we can do what we can within the available time. I think I have more determination to clear the ground as much as we can.”

    A former Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dr. Tony Iredia said: “As for me, EFCC is Nigeria’s most institutional factor in the fight against corruption and the commission has proven that.

    “What the EFCC is set up to do is very tedious but it needs non-institutional actors to succeed. One of the actors which the anti-graft agency requires is the media.”

    Iredia expressed concerns that the 1999 Constitution does not guarantee the freedom of the press.

    He said: “There is nowhere in the constitution where there is freedom of the press but what we have is freedom of speech. Why do you give the media an assignment and you give everybody the freedom?

  • Banks to face trial for aiding corruption – EFCC

    Banks to face trial for aiding corruption – EFCC

    … ’Jonathan’s wife under investigation’

    Banks and their officials who helped in concealing stolen funds will soon have their day in court, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said on Tuesday.

    He said it was unfortunate that some banks encouraged looting by creating an “enabling environment” for it.

    “The banking sector is creating a fertile ground for corruption,” the EFCC chairman said.

    Magu spoke in Lagos during an interactive session with the commission’s external lawyers and civil society organizations.

    He said it was as if the banks were telling looters: “Go and steal and I’ll hide it for you,” adding that must stop.

    “We’ll zoom in on the banks. We need to stop them from creating an enabling environment for corruption to thrive,” he said.

    Speaking with journalists on whether the commission would invite wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, for questioning over the $15,591,700 she claims belongs to her, Magu said investigation was ongoing.

    “We are on it. You see, we work for the long-term. We must complete out preliminary investigations before we come out,” he said.

    Magu told the forum that EFCC sometimes spends up to nine months investigating a case before inviting suspects for questioning, adding that no one who has stolen public funds would be spared.

    “We’ll not spare anybody. We can’t protect anyone from answering to the people. Determination is key. I believe we’ll go a long way, and that our tomorrow will be better than our today,” he said.

    The EFCC chairman said the commission did not characterize all lawyers as “rogues,”saying the statement was misinterpreted.

     

  • In defence of Magu

    In defence of Magu

    The ongoing battle of wits between EFCC’s Ibrahim Magu and NBA’s Abubakar Mahmoud over which of their two organizations Nigerians should trust became more intense with the former’s unrestrained sweeping reference to a “Bar populated or directed by people perceived to be rogues and vultures (that) cannot play the role of priests in the temple of justice”.  I don’t think Mahmoud should lose sleep over such sweeping generalization.   ‘Rogues and vultures’ we now know, are not the exclusive preserve of the bar. The ongoing sordid revelations from ‘Dasuki-gate’ have shown they have infiltrated all Nigerian institutions including the Press and the church that once served our people as model for moral rectitude.  What I think should worry the bar however is that the judiciary, unlike other institutions of state and more specifically, the press that has contributed immensely to the emancipation of our nation and consolidation of the democratic process, has remained the greatest threat to our survival as a nation. This, many have come to associate with greed among some senior members of the bar.

    History tells us that this small but powerful members were behind the 1962 bizarre judgment  against Action Group in the West, which  inexorably led to the collapse of the First Republic; exploited Ironsi inadequacies to foist Unitary Decree 34 of 1967 on the nation which eventually led to a civil war and aided Babangida with the interim contraption decree to deny the winner of a national election the joy of victory which although did not lead to a contrived civil war, but nonetheless resulted in a five-year savage reign of Abacha. We have also seen this past 16 years, a judiciary, that chose to shield those who confiscated our commonwealth without paying attention to the pursuit of justice without which a nation decays.  And until the passage in  2015 of the  Administration of Criminal Justice Act, we watched in dismay as  those facing  criminals cases of fraud, murder, and drugs  transited  from state government houses to the Upper house as senators with the help of powerful few that secured ‘perpetual injunctions’ from intimidated high courts judges. Ex-President Jonathan reduced this national tragedy to a comedy in 2014. Asked why those indicted by house probe for the theft of N1.6trillion,  many of whom had by then  become his campaign managers and fund raisers, were shielded from prosecution, he said he should not be held responsible for the slow pace at which the wheel of justice grinds in our country.   President Buhari has since identified the same powerful group as a threat to the ongoing war against corruption.

    In spite of this history of betrayals and of baleful legacies, Mahmoud during his inauguration as the newly elected NBA President on August 26 told Nigerians that “The Nigerian Bar Association commits itself to the fight against corruption in Nigeria. We will put our knowledge, our skills and all resources to combat corruption and reclaim the dignity of Nigerians and of our country”, he promised.   However, to guarantee the success of the bar’s planned new offensive against corruption, he canvassed for the withdrawal of the prosecutorial powers of the EFCC the only anti-corruption agency that has in recent times secured the conviction of some otherwise untouchables in society. He wanted the function transferred to another body that will not be reporting to the executive. He however  did not advance any argument to invalidate the unassailable reasons  the model builders of ‘the doctrine of separation of powers’ deployed to  justify assigning the control of such agencies to the executive, the custodian of state coercive power with corresponding responsibility of taming man’s animal instinct in order to guarantee peace in society.

    With the above unresolved fundamental question, Magu says those behind the attempt to deny EFCC the power to prosecute are ‘perfectly in sync with a cleverly disguised campaign by powerful forces that are uncomfortable with the reinvigorated anti-graft campaign of the EFCC and are hell-bent on emasculating the agency by stripping it of powers to prosecute with the tame excuse that an agency that investigates cannot also prosecute’. He believes there must be other motives since EFCC is only one of many government agencies that investigate and prosecute.

     Beyond this, he also wants Mahmoud to tell Nigerians why they should have faith in his prosecutorial superiority when he as the federal government appointed prosecuting counsel in the trial of ex-Delta State governor, James Ibori, at the Federal High Court, Asaba, bungled the case which EFCC lost in questionable circumstances while the same ingredients from that case were used to fetch Ibori a 13-year jail term in London.  Magu also informed Nigerians that the new NBA president “was also the commission’s counsel in the appeal against the infamous perpetual injunction from arrest and prosecution by former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, which is still pending before the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt’, eight years after it was filed.

    Some think Magu is hitting below the belt. I don’t think so. Except in Nigeria, record of public service count for much for those who aspire for leadership at any level in democratic societies. Voluntary service to the disadvantaged and vulnerable in local communities and promotion of ideals that impact positively on society are in fact necessary requirements for leadership. President Clinton and Obama started their presidential journey by providing voluntary public service as young lawyers. Hillary Clinton, currently running for American Presidency, her husband claimed rejected his marriage proposal twice because of her commitment to the disadvantaged groups. And because of her devotion to the vulnerable in Arkansas where he was governor, President Clinton claimed his party leaders used to joke about whether a wrong Clinton had not been elected as governor.

    But Abubakar Mahmoud does not need a record of service and commitment to the well-being of vulnerable to emerge NBA President. This is probably why he thinks that his dismal record of performance as a government prosecutor like those of his other privileged colleagues who cornered the brief for the prosecution and defence of the over 200 fraudulent bankers responsible for the collapse of the banking sector out of which only four were brought to justice in a period spanning eight years does not preclude him and his colleagues from taking over prosecutorial power of EFCC.

    But Magu thinks otherwise. With such depressing record of performance, he wants NBA’s   Mahmoud to explain to Nigerians why he and his group  should take over prosecutorial powers of EFCC, the only agency that has in contrast secured a number of high profile judgments against some otherwise ‘untouchables’.

    When one considers the assertion of Chief Kehinde Sofola, a past president of the bar, that the primary responsibility of the bar is to the bar, it becomes difficult to disagree with Magu that “It is too much of a strange coincidence that the suggestion to strip the EFCC of its prosecutorial powers is being floated a few months after the commission, in unprecedented fashion, arraigned some senior lawyers for corruption”.

  • Magu: EFCC has no reason to torture suspects

    Magu: EFCC has no reason to torture suspects

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ibrahim Magu yesterday said the commission has no reason to torture suspects.

    He said the agency’s functions involve the use of facts and figures, which suspects are asked to explain.

    The commission, he said, has secured over 45 convictions in Lagos courts since January.

    He denied that the commission tortures suspects in its detention centres to extract confessions.

    Magu said suspects who get sick are immediately taken to the commission’s clinic or referred to a hospital.

    The EFCC chairman, represented by Deputy Director of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr illiyasu Kwarbai, said suspects are only detained beyond 48 hours with a court order.

    According to him, medical bills incurred by anyone in detention are borne by the commission. Suspects, he said, are fed three times daily, adding that EFCC has an open-door policy.

    Kwarbai, who took journalists and civil society leaders on a tour of the commissions Lagos facilities, said despite the resistance of some accused persons, the operatives are professional in their approach.

    Among the facilities visited were EFCC’s detention centre on 7, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, its clinic, interview rooms and computerised offices.

    Each room in the detention facility, with male and female sections, has a mattress, a shower and a toilet. Kwarbai said two suspects are assigned to a room.

    There is also a church, named “House of Reconciliation with God”, and a mosque. The clinic has two consulting rooms with two doctors, nurses and a dispensary.

    Kwarbai said: “In the course of interviews, some other windows will be opened, which may require further interrogation. In that case we secure court order or remand warrant to enable us keep them.

    “Before we put them in detention we serve them with bail conditions which they will sign. They’re immediately admitted to bail pending when they produce reasonable sureties, so that if they’re released we ensure that they come back.

     “So, we don’t beat any person here. We don’t extract confessional statements. We investigate financial crimes, not robbery or murder where suspects leave the scene and make up an alibi.

    “We don’t need confessional statements to gather facts and figures. We go to the banks and other places and get our facts. There is no need for us to introduce any harsh method of interrogation at all. We don’t do it.”

    According to him, some suspects who were used to life of luxury “fall sick” once they are taken to the detention centre. He said a vehicle is stationed at the centre to move any sick  person to the clinic, which the EFCC staff also use.

    Kwarbai said one of EFCC’s strategies is to recover stolen funds from suspects. Over N2billion, he said, has been recovered this year, including properties worth billions.

    “Our recoveries are in billions. If we don’t recover some of these funds and you leave them with the accused persons, then we are in trouble and the country is also in trouble, because they have ‘destructive’ weapons,” he said.

    He said some suspects run to the court to prevent their arrest, while others hire the best lawyers to delay the cases.

    “Sometimes by mere invitation, these accused persons will go to court. We didn’t go to arrest them – just to come and answer to allegations against them in the interest of fair hearing, but they won’t.

    “If they have stolen N10billion, they will set aside N3billion for litigation. There was a time I was in the witness box for more than five hours being cross examined by the defence lawyer,” Kwarbai said.

    The EFCC chief said the commission was open to plea bargaining, as it saves the government time that would have been wasted on prosecution and enables the suspect to get a lighter sentence after returning what he stole.

    Head of Legal and Prosecution in Lagos, Gbolahan Latona, said EFCC was not at loggerheads with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    “The AGF and the state counterparts are the chief law officers as enshrined in the Constitution. Under the EFCC Act, the AGF or his representative is a member of the board of EFCC.

  • Magu seeks religious leaders support in anti-graft war

    Magu seeks religious leaders support in anti-graft war

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday urged religious leaders to use their platforms to advise Nigerians to shun corruption.

    He said religion is a veritable means of tackling corruption and other social vices in the country.

    Magu gave the advice while receiving members of the Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee (IAAC), who were at the commission to brief him on their activities.

    He said: “Every religion abhors corruption. Therefore, there is the need for us to use religion as a platform to reach out to people to shun corruption in all its ramifications.

    The EFCC boss called for collaboration between the committee, EFCC and the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), to effectively use religion as a platform in preaching against the ills of corruption.

    IAAC’s Chairman Prof Ishaq Oloyede praised Magu for the renewed vigour deployed by the commission in tackling corruption despite daunting challenges.

    ”One thing that will not go unnoticed is the contribution you have made, God will sincerely record it for you”, Oloyede prayed.

    He called on the commission to produce more copies of the Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Preaching and Teaching Manual, to ensure adequate circulation to stakeholders.

    Other members of the committee are  Archbishop John Praise (Secretary), Imam Ahmad Abdulrahman, Alhaji Abubakar Inaboya, Pastor Cletus Alu and Husseini Yusuf Mabera.

  • Buhari seeks confirmation of Magu as EFCC boss

    Buhari seeks confirmation of Magu as EFCC boss

    President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, an assistant commissioner of Police, as chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The President also asked the upper chamber to confirm Nasule Moses, Lawan Maman, Garandaji Imam Naji and Adeleke Abebayo Rafiu, as members of EFCC board.

    This is contained in a letter by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President.

    The letter, dated June 17  and received in the Office of the Senate President on June 11, 2016, was read by Senate President Bukola Saraki, yesterday at plenary.

    It was entitled: “Confirmation of Chairman and members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

    It said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act of 2004 established the commission and makes it responsible, among other things, for the coordination and enforcement of all Economic and Financial Crime Laws and Enforcement functions conferred on any person or authority.

    “Section 2 (1) of the Act also provides that the Commission shall consists of a Chairman who shall: Be the chief executive and accounting officer of the commission. 2. Be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police or equivalent 3. Possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.

    “Having carefully considered eminently suitable qualified Nigerians for the vacant position, I am pleased to inform you of the appointment of the following and to propose them for confirmation of the Senate as provided by the EFCC Act. 1.Magu Ibrahim Mustapha, ACP- Chairman, 2. Nasule Moses- Member 3. Lawan Maman- Member 4. Garandaji Imam Naji- Member

    5.Adeleke Abebayo Rafiu-Member, the letter said.

    It said the curriculum vitae of the appointees are attached for the information of the distinguished senators.

  • Magu: EFCC will remain steadfast in anti-graft war

    Magu: EFCC will remain steadfast in anti-graft war

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Mr. Ibrahim Magu said yesterday the agency would be steadfast in its anti-graft war although some of those being prosecuted were fighting back.

    He said Nigerians have a duty to kill corruption because of its negative impact.

    Magu, who made the submissions while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, asked for the support of labour.

    He said: “The negative impact of corruption affects the whole country, including our children and the unborn generation, and so we need your support more than ever before.

    “Corruption is fighting back as many of those being prosecuted for corrupt practices have the wealth to throw about.  We have resolved to remain steadfast in executing the war against corruption.

    “All of us have the duty to kill corruption.

    Wabba said there was need to form a united front in confronting the “monster,” called corruption.

    He said: “Corruption is a monster that has done more harm to our country than any other thing, because it is the cause of the crises in various sectors of Nigeria, be it power, health or housing.”

    The NLC leader said it was time to renew the affiliation and unity between NLC and EFCC because “corruption is now fighting back”.

    He added: “We have a situation where people who have stolen and are being prosecuted, go to their villages to hire people that they take to court to protest on their behalf, just because they have the resources.

    “Such a scenario necessitated the need to re-energise the NLC’s partnership with the EFCC, as a collective effort was now essential.

    “We’ve partnered in the past. But now, we have more civil servants who are willing to be whistle-blowers to provide information for the EFCC.”