By our reporter| Three foreign anti-corruption groups on Sunday said the exit of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “may erode the recent gains in the fight against corruption” and has said that what is going on in Nigeria “is of concern to the international community”.
The groups which have been assisting Nigeria in the monitoring of ongoing litigation processes on the corruption in the OPL 245/Malabu deal linked to top oil companies and officials, claimed that Magu has diligently followed up on the case, making proper recommendations and ensuring that those involved are duly prosecuted.
The groups said they are not opposed to Magu being investigated as all allegations must be probed, but they want due process to be followed, as the recent travails of the suspended EFCC boss may be the ploy of desperate, corrupt politicians.
On the recovery of public funds, the group said, “What is going on in Nigeria is of concern to the international community. Mr Magu has proved himself to be up to the task.”
“His determination to fight corruption is evident by the recovery of stolen funds and properties plus his own high moral ground earned at the cost of diligence and hard work never before seen.
“His political removal questions the will of Nigeria to deal with a major cause of the country’s underdevelopment which is corruption.”
“The procedures are clearly being hijacked by detractors of Magu in the political space and this is eroding the potential credibility of the outcome of the panel constituted to probe these allegations.
“The hounding of Magu through seemingly politically connected sponsored media harassment only makes matters worse.”
The groups also referred the president to a recent report by the University of Edinburgh-led Global Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence programme which records that “Nigeria’s anti-corruption law enforcement efforts are gradually growing more effective as practitioners adapt and innovate in response to many persistent challenges.”
According to the group, “the respect Nigeria has gained is exemplified by the recognition accorded to Magu, not least by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, which recently honoured him with an award of excellence”.
“We have been hugely impressed by the dedication of its investigators and by the disciplined leadership shown by Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu.”
“The agency is completely different from the sclerotic, timid, politically captured bureaucracy that it was in the previous period. The credit for this is due in large part to you for appointing Magu and sticking with him despite efforts to unseat him.
“Indeed, in meetings we have had with this, and other agencies, conversations have often referred to the impressive current leadership of the EFCC.”
The groups further added that Magu has previously been exonerated from all the allegations which was earlier made in 2017 by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the DSS, adding that the only fresh allegation is that relating to insubordination.
An allegation they believed could have been dealth with administratively by the AGF who instead chose to bypass, “the usual administrative procedures of issuing a query to an accused officer under his ministry in favour of a political approach.”
“We are concerned that accusations of ‘insubordination’ risk crossing the line that ensures the independence of prosecutors from political interference,” they said, adding that despite bearing false witness being illegal, no one has been investigated or charged in relation to bringing the false allegations against Magu in 2017.
“We realize that you have been placed in an invidious position by the attorney-general. However, we very much hope that you will find a way forward that protects the huge strides made by the EFCC under Magu’s acting chairmanship.
“We very much doubt if the Italian case would have reached the stage that it has without his committed and diligent response to mutual legal assistance requests.
“At this critical stage in the trial, his replacement for political reasons would be wholly regrettable and would only give succour to those being prosecuted.”
The suspende acting EFCC chairman was arrested last Monday and is currently being probed over allegations of corruption and insurbodination.
He has been replaced by Umar Mohammed, director of operations at the agency.
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