TheNewsGuru

Tag: Magu

  • FG queries EFCC boss, Magu over corruption charges against CCT chair

    The federal government has issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over the corruption charges filed against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar.

    PRNigeria obtained a copy of the query to Magu and another letter written to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo.

    In the query dated February 16, 2018 and with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15, Magu was ordered to make his response to the query available to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

    Signed by Mr. Dayo Apata, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Magu was asked to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman having being cleared of corruption allegation two times by the commission.

    Titled, “FR VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for Briefing,” the query read in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.

    “I am directed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.

    “The Commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.

    “The Commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

    “In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based.

    “Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”

    In the same vein, Keyamo was requested by the AGF to confirm who authorise him to file the corruption charge against Umar.

    Like Magu, the SAN was given till Tuesday February 20, 2018 to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing detail of who engaged or issued him with authority to file the corruption charges.

    The letter to Keyamo with reference No DPP/ADV:369/15 dated February 16, 2018, which was also signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Sectary read in part:

    “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that you have filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorization upon which you instituted the case under reference. Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard.”

    Although the EFCC in two separate letters to the Federal Government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had in 2015 and 2016 cleared Umar of any wrongdoing in the alleged N10 million bribery allegation made against him by a defendant, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi standing trial before him on false asset declaration.

    Upon receipt of the petition from Owolaabi, the EFCC had investigated the petition and sent its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) with a Reference No EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56 dated March 5, 2015, personally signed by the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde exonerating the CCT boss from the bribery saga.

    The EFCC report received by the office of SGF on March 6, 2015 was categorical that “the facts as they are against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.”

    Other EFCC documents show that in 2016 a fresh investigation was conducted into the same N10million bribery allegation and the same anti-graft agency in its second report absolved Umar of any wrongdoing and that the bribery allegation against him remain a mere suspicion.

    The EFCC second report with reference EFCC/P/HRU/688/V30/99 dated April 20, 2016 and submitted to the SGF and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo, read in part: “Kindly recall our correspondence of March 5 2015 with Reference EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56 with above subject caption. We will like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that the allegation levelled against Justice Umar were merely suspicions and consequently insufficient to prosecute the offence.”

  • Magu, Malami manipulating Nigeria’s legal system – Reps

    The House of Representatives on Thursday condemned alleged manipulation of Nigeria’s legal system by Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    The House also summoned the AGF, Abubakar Malami, for explanation on alleged manipulation of Code of Conduct Tribunal case involving the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

    This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Yakubu Barde (Kaduna-PDP).

    Moving the motion, Mr. Barde expressed concern that the chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, had been charged with corruption at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by the EFCC.

    He said the same EFCC and Mr. Malami had previously cleared Mr. Umar of the same allegations that formed the basis of the fresh two-count charge.

    “Any possible convictions or findings which the CCT may make from the same Danladi Umar, may be rendered null and void by the Court of Appeal, thereby frustrating the course of justice.

    “The House should also recall that this same EFCC and AGF are equally prosecuting cases such as the case against the Senate President before the same CCT, which Umar sits as chairman,’’ Mr. Barde said.

    Taking turns, other lawmakers condemned the actions of the AGF and EFCC after the presiding officer, Yakubu Dogara, asked lawyers among the members, to educate their colleagues on the issue.

    Razak Atunwa (Kwara-APC) said “the shenanigans and intrigues in the CCT and the trial of senate president is laughable. No doubt, there is connivance between the AGF and the EFCC against the senate president.”

    Also, Aliyu Pategi (Kwara-APC) said the case against Mr. Saraki was an instance of political manipulation.

    “EFCC and CCT are political tools used by the present government to witch-hunt perceived enemies,’’ he said.

    However, Mohammed Monguno (Borno-APC) said “the presumption of innocence gives the judge the right to go ahead to preside over the matter.’’

    The motion was therefore, adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the speaker.

    Consequently, the Committee on Judiciary was mandated to interact with the AGF to ensure that sanity was brought back to the legal system.

     

  • I can’t fight corruption alone, Magu cries out

    …says corruption causes cancer

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has enjoined Nigerians to join him in the fight against corruption insisting the agency cannot do it alone.

    The anti-graft boss also said most of the problems plaguing Nigeria are caused by corruption.

    Magu said this when he visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday.

    The EFCC boss said, “Corruption is the worst enemy of Nigeria. It is a disaster. It causes all evils. Even cancer is caused by corruption. Every evil you find in society is caused by corruption directly or indirectly. So, it is high time you and I stamped corruption out.”

    Magu called on Nigerians to assist the commission to tackle corruption, adding that the EFCC could not do it alone.

    He also commended INEC for helping to tackle corruption.

    The EFCC chair added, “We are all Nigerians and we all have equal responsibility of fighting corruption. Everybody in his home has a responsibility in the fight against corruption and no one can sit down and say he can fight corruption alone. Corruption is affecting everybody.

    “Everyone must join in the fight against corruption. Corruption is a disaster, it has done too much damage in this country and I believe INEC is fighting corruption indirectly. They may not be fighting corruption the way we are fighting it. That is why I said fight corruption whichever way you want to fight it.”

    In his remarks, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said over 200 INEC officials had been either suspended or sacked for alleged corrupt practices.

    He, however, said most of the officials of INEC were not corrupt but honest people, adding that at least 7,000 officials were promoted for their honesty and diligence last year.

  • Reps tackle Malami, Magu over Saraki’s retrial

    The House of Representatives on Thursday tackled the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, for the “manipulation” of Nigeria’s legal system.

    Adopting a motion by Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna), the House noted with concern the recent charge by the EFCC against the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, after clearing him of same.

    The lawmakers said the same Umar is prosecuting a retrial case against Senate President and chairman of the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki.

    They said any convictions or findings by Umar may be rendered null and void by the court of appeal and thereby frustrating the course of justice.

    One after the other, the lawmakers took turn to vent their anger over the issue, saying based on morality, Umar should not be the one to try Saraki.

  • EFCC recovered N473.1bn, $98.2m in 2017 – Magu

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu on Monday said the anti-graft agency recovered a sum of N473,065, 195,977.50 in 2017.

    Magu said this when he appeared before members of the Kayode Oladele led House of Representatives committee on financial crimes on Monday to defend the 2018 budget of the EFCC.

    The acting chairman further stated that an additional sum of $98,258,124.97, £ 294,851.82, €7,247,363.75 ; 443,400.00 Dirham and 70,500.00 South African Rand were recovered during the period under review.

    He explained that the amount comprised the final forfeiture of N32 billion and $ 5 million to the coffers of the government from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Alison-Diezani Madueke.

    The amount includes the recovery and final forfeiture of N449 million discovered at Legico Plaza in Victoria Island, Lagos, final forfeiture of over $43 million discovered in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, recovery of over N329 billion from petroleum marketers by the commission’s Kano office.

    The amount also includes withholding tax recovery of over N27.7 billion from banks, Nigerian Ports Authority recovery of over €6.6 million, recoveries of about N1.1 billion on behalf of AMCON, and recovery of subsidy fraud funds of over N4 billion.

    Magu who said a key challenge facing his outfit lies in the paucity of funds to implement the capital component of monies budgeted to his outfit, told the lawmakers that a director of the Osborne Towers Ikoyi was related to the sacked Director General of the Nigeria intelligence agency ( NIA) , Mr. Ayodele Oke.

    He said insufficient release of funds was responsible for the inability of his outfit to ensure completion of his new office complex.

    He presented a budget proposal of N21.62 billion which represents 27 per cent increase of the N17.2 billion appropriated to his outfit in the 2017 fiscal year. Of the amount, he stated that N7.07 is for capital expenditure, N11.015 billion for personnel and the sum of N3.6 billion is for overhead expenditure.

     

  • [BREAKING] Magu appears before reps over recovered funds

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is currently addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes on recoveries made by the agency in 2017.

    The committee is chaired by a member from Ogun State, Kayode Oladele.

    Details soon…

  • EFCC: ‘Replace Magu with credible candidate’ Senate tells Buhari

    The Senate, through its spokesperson Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger), has said that the red chamber has been vindicated in the ongoing controversy concerning the continued stay of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite their rejection of his nomination.

    Senator Sabi, who spoke at a press briefing on yesterday, cited a recent judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja where it was confirmed that the Senate has the power to confirm or reject a nomination from the President.

    Following a suit filed by a private citizen named Oluwatosin Ojaomo challenging the rejection of Magu by the Senate, the court ruled saying: “The Senate is thus conferred with authority to ensure the choice of only suitable and credible persons for appointment to that office. The submission of the Plaintiff, however, gives the impression that the Senate only exists to rubber-stamp the President’s appointment of a Chairman.”

    Sabi praised the judgment in light of comments made by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who had allegedly questioned the constitutional authority of the upper chamber to confirm nominations by the Executive. The stance of the Acting President at the time led to the halting of confirmation of nominees by the Senate till date.

    He concluded by urging the President to “do the needful,” and present another credible candidate from the millions of qualified Nigerians.

    “We hope our amiable president will find this judgment in order and provide another nominee to carry on with the good work of anti-corruption,” Sabi said.

  • BREAKING: Court backs Senate’s decision to defer confirmation of Magu as EFCC chair

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Senate is conferred with the authority to ensure the choice of “only suitable and credible persons for appointment to the office”.

    The court gave the ruling on Thursday in determining the suit challenging the Senate’s authority to deny an appointee to the office of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the EFCC Act.

    The court further held that any impression that the Senate is a rubber stamp of Presidential appointees is misconceived and running contrary to Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act.

    Details later…

  • Buhari, Magu, others off to Ethiopia for AU summit

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

    The highlight of the President’s engagements during the visit will be his Statement under the historic theme for the AU Summit, namely: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”

    According to a statement Thursday by the presidential spokesman Mr Femi Adesina, this is the first time in the 54-year history of the AU that anti-corruption will be made a theme of the gathering of the regional leaders.

    Adesina recalled that on July 4, 2017 during the 29th Session of the AU, African leaders unanimously endorsed Buhari to champion the fight against corruption on the continent in recognition of his personal commitment and widely acclaimed anti-graft drive at the domestic level.

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

    “While thanking his colleagues for the honour, he reiterated his ‘commitment to contribute towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent,” Adesina said.

    He said apart from anti-corruption, other issues lined for consideration by African leaders and their delegations include peace and security (transnational terrorism); institutional reforms of the continental body; free movement of persons; climate change; trade; aviation; education; gender and development.

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

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau; the Minister of State (Aviation), Hadi Sirika; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu are in the President’s delegation to the summit.

  • Innoson appreciates Nigerians, insists Magu never invited him for questioning

    The Founder/Chairman of Innoson Technical Manufacturing Company, Enugu, Chief Innocent Chukwuma on Thursday appreciated Nigerians for standing by him while his trial with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC lasted.

    The Innoson boss, however, noted that the Magu-led EFCC never officially invited him for questioning. He also promised to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

    Innoson stated this in a special statement signed and released by him and sent to TheNewsGuru.com on Thursday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arrested him claiming he (Innoson) hired six truckloads of thugs to attacks its operatives when they went to arrest him at his Enugu residence.

    He was however released on bail at exactly 7:30 pm on Wednesday 20th December 2017.

    The Innoson boss had since rejected the bail, insisting that the anti-graft agency should explain to the world why he was arrested in the first place.

    Innoson in the statement on Thursday also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, lawmakers and other stakeholders for believing in the rule of law.

    His statement reads in full:

    “May I use this opportunity to express my gratitude to fellow countrymen who stood by me in this period of my Illegal arrest by EFCC.

    Firstly, I want to thank Mr President, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his believe in the rule of law. I thank also the various State Governors who condemned my illegal arrest and fought to see my release.

    I also thank the distinguished members of the National Assembly for their support in voicing out my illegal arrest, the traditional rulers across the divide from the North to the South, your support and contribution to my release is well noted. Thank you.

    To all the Media organizations, various human rights groups, the youths, the #FreeInnoson social media crusaders and everybody who gave a voice to condemn my illegal arrest, thank you all.

    I still maintain that my arrest was illegal, as there was never a period that EFCC under the leadership of Ibrahim Magu invited me for any reason. In due time, I will tell Nigerians the whole truth about this matter. I intend to work faithfully with the EFCC on this alleged investigation so as to clear my name which has been badly damaged, and I will follow up this so-called investigation to its logical conclusion.

    Once again, thank you my fellow Nigerians, with this high level of support and love showered on me during this period of my travail, I reiterate my strong resolve on the robust industrialization project of our dear nation, which will make her truly great again. I thank you all once more for your support.

    Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma OFR

    Chairman/CEO

    Innoson Group