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Tag: Magu

  • AGF urges court to dismiss suit seeking Magu’s sack

    AGF urges court to dismiss suit seeking Magu’s sack

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit by two lawyers seeking the sack of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu.

    The AGF made the request in a notice of preliminary objection he filed for himself and on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari against the suit.

    The plaintiffs – Ahmed Yusuf and Peter Asa – filed the suit on March 24, this year.

    They listed Magu, the AGF, the President, the Senate and the President of the Senate as defendants.

    The plaintiffs claimed to have been aggrieved by the appointment of Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC by the President despite Senate’s refusal to confirm his appointment.

    They queried the competence of Magu’s continued occupation of the seat of EFCC Chairman, his nomination by the President having been rejected twice by the Senate

    The plaintiffs  primarily seeks an order restraining the President from further re-nominating or re-presenting Magu’s name to the Senate for confirmation, the name having earlier been rejected twice by the Senate.

    They also want a declaration that by the combined effect of the provisions of Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act and Order 131 of the Rules of the Senate, Magu or any other person cannot validly occupy the office of the Chairman of the EFCC in acting capacity.

    But in a notice of preliminary objection, the AGF argued that not only was the suit wrongly initiated by the plaintiff, they equally lacked the locus standi to file the suit.

    Malami argued that the plaintiffs did not have sufficient interest in the determination of the matter and have not shown that their civil rights were breached by the defendants.

  • Magu, mayor join Nigerians on Independence Day parade in New York

    Magu, mayor join Nigerians on Independence Day parade in New York

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor of Newark New Jersey Ugo Nwaokoro and Abia State Deputy Governor Ude Chukwu were among the dignitaries at the Nigeria’s Independence Day parade at the weekend in New York.

    The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Magu joined the parade, which began at Second Avenue on E 54th Street and ended at the Nigerian House on E 44th Street.

    He joined other dignitaries at the Independence Day Festival at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations Headquarters after the Parade.

    Known as the largest celebration of Nigerians outside the homeland, the annual Nigerian Independence Day Parade, in its 26th year, celebrated the very best of Nigeria’s food, music and people.

    The mayor, in a signed proclamation presented at the Festival by Deputy Mayor Richard Buery, praised the contributions of Nigerians to the development and diversity of the city.

    “New York would not be the diverse and dynamic city it is today without the influence of Nigerian immigrants,” he said.

    The proclamation, signed by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in honour of Nigerian Independence Day Parade, said: “Our large and thriving population of Nigerian Americans has strengthened every facet of the five boroughs, with many serving as leaders in the fields of business, academia, medicine, government, technology, the arts, and more.

    “As New Yorkers of Nigerian descent celebrate 57 years of Nigeria’s independence, I am pleased to recognise the indelible impact this vital community has made on our great city, and the many ways it continues to shape and fortify our future.”

    According to him, the lively procession is a terrific way to showcase for all New Yorkers, the rich heritage and spirit of fellowship that defines Nigerian Americans.

    “As Nigerian New Yorkers unite and celebrate, I commend the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians for its efforts to organise this terrific event, defend the rights and interests of Nigerian Americans and enhance the cultural vitality of our global city.”

    Abia State Deputy Governor Chukwu hailed Nigerians in the U.S. for being united in spite of their differences.

    He lauded them for projecting the image of Nigeria positively to the whole world, saying the homeland is proud of the contributions of Nigerians in the U.S.

    Deputy Mayor of Newark Nwaokoro praised Nigerians for standing united in spite of the obvious challenges in the homeland.

     

  • Politicians behind suspension of NFIU from Egmont Group, says Magu

    Politicians behind suspension of NFIU from Egmont Group, says Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Ibrahim Magu yesterday said some politicians were behind the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group.

    Magu made the claim when the Director-General of the Inter- Governmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Adama Coulibaly, led a delegation on a visit to him in Abuja

    He said the suspension of the NFIU from the Egmont Group was based on “misinformation,” by those who are hell-bent on handicapping the EFCC, and it is a case of “corruption fighting back”.

    Magu said: “Politicians are behind the NFIU crisis, because they want to destroy the achievements recorded by the EFCC.

    “The frantic move by the Legislature to take the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) out of the EFCC was suspicious, and borne out of an ulterior motive.

    “There is a complete misunderstanding about the workings of the NFIU, and it is surprising that the new bill by the legislators pushing for removal of the NFIU from the EFCC was passed in seven days.adding that “This is a practice that has never happened in any part of the world”.

    Magu however stressed that the EFCC was not at loggerheads with the NFIU.

    “I have confidence in the management of the NFIU and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, and the relationship is very cordial and professional.

    “The EFCC is very much in support of the NFIU’s autonomy”.

    He said  Africa should consider the establishment of an association of African Financial Intelligence Units.

    The DG of GIABA, Adama Coulibaly, however  pledged support of the organisation for EFCC  and the Nigerian Government to ensure the lifting of the suspension of the Nigerain Finacial Intelligence Unit from the Egmont Group in the shortest time possible.

    While commending the EFCC for championing the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria, Coulibaly said that the agency’s achievements were not only for the country, but for the African continent.

  • Magu accuses public officers of engaging in ‘conflict of interest’

    ACTING Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu is worried that public servants are weighed down by conflict of interests arising from resisting corruption and actually engaging in corrupt acts.

    Magu made the allegation while delivering a lecture organized by finance correspondents in Abuja yesterday.

    Magu, who said the commission had recovered over N409 billion from treasury looters, lamented that Nigeria is bleeding under the weight of corruption “because the average public office holder is bogged down in conflict of interests”.

    He said: “Now, the public office holder is more interested in advancing personal interest rather than the public interest, which he is charged to discharge.”

    The EFCC boss, who was represented by Head of Public Interface unit of the EFCC Tony Orilade, noted that “in the thinking of the morally bankrupt person, the public office confers on him or her rare opportunity of a life time. So, his or her action is informed by pecuniary motives.”

    Magu maintained that his commission was determined to fight corruption to a standstill in Nigeria, but sadly, “it is fighting back, really hard. In the history of the EFCC’s 14 years of spearheading the fight against corruption, the fightback has never been this savage.”

  • Reps to banks: Unfreeze Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    Reps to banks: Unfreeze Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed six commercial banks to unfreeze any account belonging to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan and her relatives.

    However, the affected banks are those without restriction order from court or the anti-graft agencies.

    The House also asked the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, to appear before its Public Petition Committee on October 4.

    The House regretted that Magu failed to honour the Committee’s invitation on three occasions but advised the EFCC chairman that it should not be compelled to force his appearance before the panel.

    At the continuation of hearing on a petition filed by Jonathan on Tuesday, some of the affected banks denied restricting access to accounts belonging to the former first lady.

    The banks said access was only denied to the accounts flagged by the EFCC.

    One of the banks, Diamond bank said Jonathan has three accounts with it.

    The bank said one of the accounts was closed while the other two, including the one operated by her Non- governmental organization – Women For Change – were restricted.

     

     

  • Return loot, join us to fight corruption — Magu

    Return loot, join us to fight corruption — Magu

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday said repentant looters were free to join the fight against corruption.

    “We are calling on every Nigerian to join us; you can even return loot, face consequences then join us to fight corruption,” Magu said, according to a statement from the commission.

    He reportedly spoke at a parley with members of labour unions, civil society organisations, and social media personalities at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

    In the statement, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC boss harped on the need for a united front in the anti-corruption crusade.

    “We have reached a level where nobody can stop us in the fight against corruption.

    “But we all must realise that we are all stakeholders, and this fight is for the future generation,” he said.

    Magu reiterated his belief that corruption is the major factor impeding the country’s development, and the root cause of every evil in the land.

    “The EFCC alone cannot fight and defeat corruption; the battle requires the support of everybody to be won.

    “All stakeholders must step up the battle; you are not doing it for yourself.

    “You are doing it for the future of the country and the future generation in order to bring back the change that we really crave for,” he said.

    The anti-corruption czar restated the commission’s resolve to intensify the anti-corruption campaign, urging the stakeholders to “maximise the political will being currently enjoyed under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Let us do the right thing and insist on it because change begins with you and me.

    “From our households to our kids, places of work and beyond, by also living a life of integrity,” he stressed.

    Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  commended the EFCC leadership for its steadfastness in the fight against corruption.

    Wabba, however, noted that the efforts could only be successful if the relevant laws were fully implemented.

    “All Nigerians must play their roles, because EFCC can only do its best, but we must support the agency.

    “The law should also take its course, policies should be strengthened, and punishment must be meted out in good time,” he said.

    Dan Nwanyanwu, a lawyer and politician, used the opportunity to commend the EFCC, and stressed the importance of giving the anti-graft agency the necessary support.

    “Every right thinking Nigerian must support every effort being carried out by the EFCC to recover our stolen money and our patrimony,” he said.

    On his part, Mr Joe Abah, a former Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, also commended the EFCC for taking the gauntlet in the fight against corruption.

    “EFCC is a strong institution and it is the same institution that has produced credible leaders from inception,” he said. (NAN)

  • Magu seeks China’s help in effort to recover looted funds

    Magu seeks China’s help in effort to recover looted funds

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday asked China to assist the commission in identifying and recovering proceeds of corruption stashed in the Asian country by some Nigerians.

    He said the anti-graft agency was open to international collaboration.

    Magu made the plea while receiving a Director at Vice-Minister Level in the Office of the Central Leading Group for Inspection Tours of the Communist Party of China (CPC), L.I. Xiaohong.

    He described the visit as “a gateway” for expanding the operations of the EFCC.

    He said: “We are committed and willing to cooperate with you, and we seek your assistance, particularly in the area of capacity building, training of personnel, and combating advance fee fraud, internet fraud, and theft of petroleum products.

    “I want to use this opportunity to seek your assistance in identifying and recovering proceeds of corruption stashed away in China.

    “We need to have synergy so that even when China has any problem in its embassy here in Nigeria, the EFCC will swiftly tackle the issue without waiting for protocols, because ‘delay is dangerous’”.

    Magu said the partnership with China in fighting corruption in Nigeria would also extend to the oil and gas industry.

    He said: “We have noticed that some Chinese are getting involved in oil theft. Some of them have been caught in the act and are currently facing trial.

    “We are calling on the delegation to collaborate with us so we can check such vices, as this will help both countries.”

    Xiaohong, who led a delegation to the EFCC headquarters, said China would assist Nigeria in its anti-graft war.

    He asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to kick corruption out of Nigeria.

    He praised the EFCC for its unrelenting effort to fight corruption to a standstill in Nigeria.

    He said: “We have heard a lot about your efforts in the fight against corruption and commend you for your doggedness in ensuring that you kick corruption out of Nigeria.

    “We want to cooperate with the EFCC to explore and promote anti-corruption agenda, as we are aware of your achievements.”

    Xiaohong was accompanied by ZHOU Pingjian, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and other top officials of the CPC.

  • Civil societies to AGF: Tread softly on Magu

    Civil societies to AGF: Tread softly on Magu

    •’Suspension of NFIU has nothing to do with EFCC chairman’

    Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday asked the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), not to allow fifth columnists to hijack the anti-graft war.

    They asked the AGF to tell Nigerians the successful convictions his office had secured in the fight against corruption in the last two years unlike the EFCC, which had won 124 cases.

    They accused the AGF of alleged desperation to  assert his position as Chief Law Officer of the Federation by demanding case files of Politically Exposed Persons(PEPs).

    They urged the AGF to explain why he has not acted on the $1b Malabu Oil Block since the EFCC sent the file to him in January.

    The CSOs made their position known in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of the Cold War between the AGF and the EFCC on the anti-corruption war.

    The statement was signed by Chido Onumah (African Centre for Media & Information Literacy); Olanrewaju Suraju (Civil Society Network Against Corruption); Auwal Musa Rafsanjani (Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre); Mohammed Attah (Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative); George-Hill Anthony (Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group) and Ibrahim Modibbo  (Democrats of Conscience).

    The CSOs said: “The attention of these civil society organisations has been drawn to the needless rift between the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which further deteriorated with the recent ill-advised statement by Salihu Othman Isah, media aide to the AGF, pointing to the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, as the one undermining the war against corruption of the current administration.

    “We see the deepening disharmony between the two government institutions as an embarrassment to the Federal Government and it is capable of weakening its anti-corruption efforts.

    “We are alarmed that someone in the office of the AGF could be making such sweeping and grievous allegation without an atom of proof.

    “We want to believe that Mr. Isah did not speak the mind of his boss given that the AGF himself had dismissed any notion of quarrel or disagreement between him and Mr. Ibrahim Magu as widely reported in the media a couple of weeks ago.

    “Instead of engaging in ‘petty shadow boxing’, what the country needs at this moment, particularly in the war against corruption, is focused leadership. In our opinion, this is no time to give in to the wiles of inordinately ambitious fifth columnists.

    “We can’t afford to allow emotions ruin the fight against corruption. We don’t think the action of the AGF is in tandem with the anti-corruption agenda of Mr. President!”

    The CSOs said the Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, should not be blamed for the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

    The statement added: “In our estimation, if there is anyone who will not give an inch to the corrupt, it is the current acting chairman of the EFCC. How will such a person become a stumbling block to the fight against corruption? It simply does not make sense.

    “The story of what led to the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, an informal network of national financial intelligence units, is already well known and has nothing to do with the person of Ibrahim Magu or the EFCC.

    “Since the government has set up a committee to address the issue, we urge that the committee be allowed to do its job without interference, though we believe the committee has already been infiltrated by fifth columnists, who are using the committee’s name to push personal objectives.”

    They added: “By calling for all case files of politically exposed persons, we see the desperation of the AGF to assert his position as Chief Law Officer of the Federation. That position is not in doubt and we don’t want to believe the EFCC as an institution has given any indication that it was unwilling to yield to the directive.

    “We are reliably informed that a good number of cases have been sent by the agency to the AGF, including the controversial Malabu case which sources in the AGF office confirmed receiving in January this year. As at the time of this release, the AGF has done nothing about the case?

    “We also want to draw the attention of the public to the fact that even in cases such as the ones involving judges arrested for alleged corruption by the Department of State Security (DSS), the AGF has not fared well in prosecuting them.”

    The organisations challenged the AGF to release the record of convictions which his office had secured in the last two years.

  • AGF accuses Magu, EFCC leadership of frustrating Nigeria’s return to Egmont Group

    AGF accuses Magu, EFCC leadership of frustrating Nigeria’s return to Egmont Group

    THE battle of suspicion between Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu blew into open yesterday.

    The AGF came down hard on Magu and the EFCC leadership, alleging in a statement issued in Abuja that Magu and the EFCC leadership had “manipulated and misused intelligence to the detriment of the fight against corruption and financial crime in Nigeria”.

    He accused them of working to prevent the lifting of the country’s suspension by  the global financial intelligence gathering body, Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (Egmont Group), and ensure the country’s formal expulsion.

    The Egmont Group comprises 156 financial intelligence units (FIUs) representing 156 countries.

    It serves as a platform for the exchange of expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

    It also functions as the operational arm of the international anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) apparatus.

    Nigeria, represented in the group by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), was suspended on June 1, 2007 on the grounds that NFIU lacked independence and was subject to the control of the EFCC via the provision of the Section 1(2)(c) of the EFCC Act. The group demanded autonomy for NFIU as a condition for the country’s readmission, failing which it would be expelled.

    Since the nation’s suspension, Malami and Magu have been unable to agree on how to meet the condition set by the Egmont Group for the country’s readmission.

    The AGF, who wants an autonomous NFIU, detached from the EFCC, has sent a Bill to the National Assembly to that effect.

    Magu prefers that the NFIU remain part of the EFCC, but with mere reorganisation of its operations.

    In the statement issued for the AGF by his spokesman, Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, Malami frowned at Magu’s hard stance on the issue and noted that the uncooperative attitude of EFCC’s leadership could encourage the Egmont Group to carry out its threat to expel Nigeria.

    Malami regretted that Magu appeared not to appreciate the implication of Nigeria’s expulsion from the group on the efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to combat corruption, terrorism, money laundering and related vices.

    The AGF, who insisted on ensuring the separation of the NFIU from the EFCC, hailed the Senate for passing the Bill for an independent NFIU and urged the House of Representatives to urgently pass a similar bill pending before it.

    Part of the statement reads: “The EFCC is now in a state of paranoia, as it dreads the effort of the government to have an independent NFIU, which it has stood against stoically since 2006.

    “As it presently stands, the NFIU staff are all deployed by the EFCC to serve in the interest of whoever is its current Chairman. This has to stop if it must conform to the new thinking and global best practice. Nigeria cannot be an island of its own. It cannot fight corruption in isolation.

    “The threat of expulsion from the Egmont Group calls for a thorough review of the NFIU and the manner in which the EFCC leadership has manipulated and misused intelligence to the detriment of the fight against corruption and financial crime in Nigeria.

    “To achieve the desired goal, NFIU needs to stand alone as an agency with full complements of power to recruit its staff and an annual budgetary allocation guaranteed for its operations.

    “Its independence must be ascertained in the new law to set up Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA) to enable it carry out its mandate, which shall include responsibilities for receiving, requesting, analysing and disseminating financial intelligence reports on money laundering, terrorist financing and other relevant information to law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, and other relevant authorities.

    “As a result of the new occurrences in global circle, it is pertinent that the EFCC cannot continue to be dogmatic on its stand. It can’t shy away from the needful. The current reality is that Nigeria must not remain a pariah in the anti-corruption space. This is very germane at this point…”

  • EFCC, Magu frustrating anti-graft war – Malami

    EFCC, Magu frustrating anti-graft war – Malami

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Wednesday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, of frustrating the Federal Government’s anti-graft war.

    Malami, in a statement issued in Abuja, alleged that Magu and the EFCC leadership have “manipulated and misused intelligence to the detriment of the fight against corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.”

    He also accused them of working to prevent the lifting of the country’s suspension by the global financial intelligence gathering body – Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (Egmont Group) and ensure the country’s formal expulsion.

    The Egmont Group, currently made up of 156 Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), representing 156 countries, serves as a platform for exchange of expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and functions as the operational arm of the international anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) apparatus.

    Nigeria, represented in the group by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), was suspended on June 1, 2007 because the NFIU lacks independence and was subject to the control of the EFCC via the provision of the Section 1(2)(c) of the EFCC Act.

    The group demanded autonomy for NFIU as a condition for the country’s readmission, failing which it would be expelled.

    Since the nation’s suspension, Malami and Magu have been unable to agree on how to meet the condition set by the Egmont Group for the country’s readmission.

    While the AGF wants the creation of an autonomous NFIU, detached from the EFCC, and has send a Bill to the National Assembly to that effect, Magu wants NFIU to remain part of EFCC, but with mere re-organisation of its operations.

    In the statement issued for the AGF by his spokesman, Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, Malami frowned at Magu’s hard stance on the issue and noted that the uncooperative attitude of EFCC’s leadership could encourage the Egmont Group to carry out its threat to expel the country.

    Malami regretted that Magu appeared not to understand the implication of Nigeria’s expulsion from the group on government’s efforts to combat corruption, terrorism, money laundering and other related vices.

    The AGF, who insisted on ensuring the separation of NFIU from the EFCC, praised the Senate for passing the Bill for an independent NFIU and urged the House of Representatives to urgently pass similar Bill currently pending before it.

    The statement reads: “The EFCC is now in a state of paranoia, as it dreads the effort of the government to have an independent NFIU, which it has stood against stoically since 2006.

    “As it presently stands, the NFIU staff are all deployed by the EFCC to serve in the interest of whoever is its current Chairman. This has to stop if it must conform to the new thinking and global best practice. Nigeria cannot be an island of its own. It cannot fight corruption in isolation.

    “The threat of expulsion from the Egmont Group calls for a thorough review of the NFIU and the manner in which the EFCC leadership has manipulated and misused intelligence to the detriment of the fight against corruption and financial crime in Nigeria.

    “To achieve the desired goal, NFIU needs to stand alone as an agency with full complements of power to recruit its staff and an annual budgetary allocation guaranteed for its operations.

    “Its independence must be ascertained in the new law to set up Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA) to enable it carry out its mandate, which shall include responsibilities for receiving, requesting, analysing and disseminating financial intelligence reports on money laundering, terrorist financing and other relevant information to law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, and other relevant authorities.”