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Tag: Magu

  • Probe: Magu makes fresh, shocking revelations on whereabouts of recovered assets

    Probe: Magu makes fresh, shocking revelations on whereabouts of recovered assets

    The suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has finally let the cat out of the bag on some allegations leveled against him by the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel probing the whereabouts of some recovered asset by the agency.

    According to reports, Magu while defending his management of the recovered assets said some vehicles and houses recovered were auctioned to the Presidential Villa, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as the Federal Inland Revenue Services and other agencies.

    He further stated that some of these agencies had not paid for the vehicles but there was an arrangement that the money would be deducted from their financial allocation.

    Magu, in a leaked letter addressed to the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel titled, ‘Re: Alleged Case of Conspiracy, Enrichment, Abuse of Public Office and Other Infractions,’ explained how some of the recovered vehicles were auctioned.

    The letter was in response to an earlier report by the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets in which Magu was accused of being unable to account for the interest accrued to N550bn recovered funds as well as recovered vehicles and houses.

    In his response to the allegations of being unable to account for recovered vehicles, Magu stated, “On allocation of vehicles to some government agencies through special auction with presidential approval. The beneficiary agencies are: the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of which the valued price is to be debited from their allocation; State House, National Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons; Federal Inland Revenue Service and National Directorate of Employment.”

    The suspended EFCC boss said about 450 other vehicles, which had been recovered, had yet to be sold despite receiving presidential approval to do so.

    “The commission presently has presidential approval to dispose over 450 forfeited vehicles located in Lagos and Abuja. The vehicles have been valued by the National Automotive Council Valuers and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. But no sale/disposal has been conducted yet,” Magu stated.

    He said some of the houses permanently forfeited to the Federal Government by looters had also been handed over to some government agencies like the Voice of Nigeria, North -East Development Commission and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.

    The suspended EFCC boss explained that some other properties, which had been forfeited pending the outcome of court cases, were being rented by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Army and other agencies of government.

    The letter further read, “Real properties finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and allocated to some agencies for official use in line with the Presidential approval are: Voice of Nigeria, National Directorate of Employment, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, North East Development Commission and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.

    “Properties under interim forfeiture order are rented by the following government agencies: Nigerian Army, Federal Ministry of Finance, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

    “Other agencies of government that have approached the commission to rent properties under interim forfeiture order include: National Human Rights Commission and National Council for Arts and culture.”

    Magu said the commission also temporarily handed over property in Lagos to the Lagos State Government for use as isolation centres for COVID-19 patients.

    The suspended EFCC boss attached photographs of some of the recovered assets to the letter he addressed to the panel.

    However, it was learnt that an attempt by Magu’s lawyer, Wahab Shittu, to submit the letter to the panel on Monday was rebuffed.

    The panel was said to have insisted that there was no basis for the letter and informed Shittu that Magu would be summoned if there was a need for clarification.

    “An attempt to submit the letter to the secretary of the panel on Monday failed. Magu’s team was informed that the panel does not entertain letters but it is purely an investigative one. If there is a need for clarification, Magu would be invited,” a source said.

  • Magu’s probe: Prepare for surprises, presidency tells Nigerians

    Magu’s probe: Prepare for surprises, presidency tells Nigerians

    There is more to be heard and seen as regards the case of suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, this is according to a statement from the presidency.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who made the revelations during an interview session on Channels Television’s on Sunday said that Nigerians should prepare for surprises as the panel probing the suspended chairman is getting set to submit a report of its findings.

    Mr Shehu said the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel has been updating the President on some of their findings, noting that Nigerians will be amazed as to the content of the panel’s report.

    He said President Buhari is recognized internationally for his fight against corruption and deserves to be commended.

    The spokesman assured that where wrongdoings are detected, they will always be addressed.

    Mr Shehu, therefore, asked Nigerians to ignore those persons who are trying to cast aspersions on the efforts of the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel.

  • Why Magu was after me – Saraki

    Why Magu was after me – Saraki

    Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has revealed why the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu went after him with zeal to prosecute him.

    Saraki said Magu decided to take the fight against him personal because the eight National Assembly did not confirm his appointment as substantive EFCC Chairman.

    The former Senate President was reacting to his victory against the EFCC at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa had dismissed in its totality the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forfeiture order on Saraki’s home in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    He said the last five years had been very challenging for him and his family, as he had endured and defeated one false allegation and malicious litigation after another, in an ill-motivated persecution, intimidation and harassment, through which some vested interests sought to damage his name and label him with charges of corruption.

    “But with the grace of Allah, I have always been victorious. I thank God for the outcome of this case which is the fifth victory in cases in which the EFCC was either the main investigating agency or the plaintiff.

    “It is obvious that the EFCC leadership under its erstwhile acting chair, Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu decided to take the issue of his non-confirmation by the 8th Senate which I led, personally. However, I know that the Senate under my leadership only followed the due and normal procedure during the confirmation process and we never executed any personal agenda against Magu.

    “The records of the Senate during the period is there for the perusal of all Nigerians interested in the truth. I hope that with the outcome of today’s case, the EFCC learns that a serious issue like the fight against corruption should not be reduced to a forum-shopping means to execute a personal vendetta or prosecute a parochial agenda.

    “Fighting corruption and combating economic crime requires stakeholders to eschew coercion while employing upright diligence, due process, fairness, equity and broad-mindedness in dealing with all cases and persons.

    The deployment of a state institution to fight a personal and partisan battle, particularly with the use of the mass and social media as championed by the EFCC was aimed at inflicting damage to my name, reputation and elective public service record, through a targeted misinformation and disinformation campaign of calumny, also directed at intimidating the judiciary,” he stated.

    According to Saraki, it was directed at giving the wrong impression about him, as he recorded yet another vindication by the competent court of law, saying that God’s willing, his focus would now shift to more serious issues.

    He said it was the grace of Allah and the support of his family that saw him through this past trying years, stressing that his family members had withstood with courage, candor, resilience and grace the war of attrition which was also directed at them.
    Saraki said it was important to put it on record that he held no grudge against any individual for their roles in his trials, as his experience in the last five years had only strengthened his faith in Almighty Allah, the Nigerian nation and her judiciary which had always risen above the din to give justice at all times and in all situation.

    “Definitely, I remain unflinching in my belief that we need to build a functional society which creates the right atmosphere for all to aspire to be whatever positive they desire.

    “At this point, let me strongly express my support for the anti-corruption war and the institutions created to prosecute this war. My antecedents show that I have always sponsored and backed initiatives in this direction. I was part of the team that initiated the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and Public Procurement Act under the Obasanjo administration. As Governor of Kwara State, my government was the first state to introduce the Price Intelligence Unit and was also the first state to submit our financial process for rating by Fitch, the global rating agency.

    “As a member of the 7th Senate, I sponsored the motion which exposed the monumental fraud in fuel subsidy payments while the 8th Senate under my leadership passed five different bills aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption, particularly the law that created the National Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA),” he said.

  • Magu says allegations leveled against him fabricated, makes fresh vows

    Magu says allegations leveled against him fabricated, makes fresh vows

    Suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has described the allegations levelled against him as “nonsense” and ‘fabricated’.

    Speaking after he was released from police custody, Magu said he was shocked when he read the allegations designed to tarnish his image.

    He was arrested last week and whisked to the presidential villa in Abuja, where he appeared before a panel President Muhammadu Buhari set up to probe the EFCC under him.

    The panel is headed by Ayo Salami, retired president of the appeal court.

    “They are nonsense. They are mere trump up allegations to tarnish my image and that of the EFCC. I did not steal or divert or convert funds to private use. I read the allegations and I was shocked,” Magu was quoted to have said.

    “What I have gone through is a case of dog eats dog but I see it as one of those risks of the job… we must not give up in any way.”

    Magu, who vowed to fight corruption till the end, thanked those who stood by him when he was in detention.

    He asked Nigerians not to give up on the fight against corruption, saying: “Corruption kills a nation faster than any other thing.”

    “I thank Nigerians for their support, they should not be discouraged. I am happy to be back, I believe the war against corruption is winnable,” he said.

    “Whether I am EFCC Chairman or not, the anti-corruption war must continue.”

    Magu’s travails followed a memo by Malami accusing him of grave malfeasance. He was alleged to have mishandled the recovered loot and sold seized assets to his associates.

    A slew of allegations has come to the fore since his arrest. He was alleged to have purchased a property in Dubai, United Arab Emirate using a pastor as a conduit.

    He was also alleged to have laundered over N500 billion through a bureau-de-change in Kaduna.

    Magu earlier denied the allegations through his lawyers.

    Mohammaded Umar, former director of operations at the EFCC, has taken charge of the commission in acting capacity.

  • BREAKING: Magu finally released from detention

    BREAKING: Magu finally released from detention

    Reports reaching TheNewGuru (TNG) indicate that the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has been released on bail.

    Recall Magu was arrested and detained on Monday, July 6, 2020, following a summons by the presidential panel over alleged infractions as regards his activities in office.

    As at the time this report was filed, details of his bail are still sketchy but it was gathered that he has returned to his residence in Abuja.

    Earlier, TNG had reported how the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, asked Tosin Ojaomo, MAgu’s counsel, to direct the request for his client’s bail to the Presidential panel investigating his activities in office.

    The IG said the police were not investigating Magu and is accordingly, not being detained by the force but by the panel headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

    Adamu said this in a letter dated July 14, 2020, in response to the bail application filed by Ojaomo for the release of his client who had been in police custody since July 6.

    The letter with reference CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.489/171 titled, ‘RE: Application for bail,’ was signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa.

    It read, “Your letter OOC/TOL/89A/07/2020 of July 10th, 2020 on the above-underlined subject, refers.

    “The Inspector-General of Police directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating CP Ibrahim Magu (your client) and he is accordingly, not being detained by the police but by the Presidential Panel that is investigating the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, advises that you consider redirecting your request to the Chairman of the Presidential panel for appropriate attention.”

  • BREAKING: Police IG rejects Magu’s bail request, sends him to panel

    BREAKING: Police IG rejects Magu’s bail request, sends him to panel

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has asked Tosin Ojaomo, the counsel for the embattled former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, to direct the request for his client’s bail to the Presidential panel investigating his activities in office.

    The IG said the police were not investigating Magu and is accordingly, not being detained by the force but by the panel headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

    Adamu said this in a letter dated July 14, 2020, in response to the bail application filed by Ojaomo for the release of his client who had been in police custody since July 6.

    The letter with reference CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.489/171 titled, ‘RE: Application for bail,’ was signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa.

    It read, “Your letter OOC/TOL/89A/07/2020 of July 10th, 2020 on the above-underlined subject, refers.

    “The Inspector-General of Police directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating CP Ibrahim Magu (your client) and he is accordingly, not being detained by the police but by the Presidential Panel that is investigating the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, advises that you consider redirecting your request to the Chairman of the Presidential panel for appropriate attention.”

  • Probe: Detectives comb Magu’s office, arrest top aides

    Probe: Detectives comb Magu’s office, arrest top aides

    Some detectives on Monday searched the office of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu as part of the ongoing investigation by the Justice Ayo Salami Investigative panel.

    It was learnt that a vital computer was retrieved by the investigators.

    Also, more EFCC officials, including the acting Director of the Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Management Unit were grilled by the panel.

    Also quizzed were some of Magu’s aides.

    It was also learnt that the committee sought clarifications on 332 assets recovered by the EFCC.

    According to a report by The Nation, the detectives also screened and profiled mobile phones of Magu’s close aides.

    They were all allowed to go home last night.

    But Magu, who was present during the siting, which lasted about 12 hours, did not make any appearance before the committee, it was learnt.

    The detectives were at the The EFCC headquarters to search Magu’s office based on intelligence, it was also learnt.

    A source said privy to the development said: “The detectives frisked the office and went away with the main desktop computer suspected to have some information.

    “Two key aides of Magu were later asked to appear before the panel for some clarifications. They were there till about 9.30pm.

    “Apart from Magu’s direct aides, the EFCC’s acting Director, Directorate of Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Management, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, interacted with the Salami panel.

    “I think Aliyu Yusuf’s summons was in respect of the 332 assets recovered from suspects by the commission. The panel is demanding comprehensive details on the assets which have attracted public interest.

    “The committee was very strict in sitting behind closed doors by ensuring that only those needed were allowed to meet with the team.”

  • Prophet distances self from Magu over N573m Dubai property

    Prophet distances self from Magu over N573m Dubai property

    A cleric has denied allegations that he bought a property in Dubai worth N573m on behalf of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

    Prophet Emmanuel Omale, who is also the General Overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International, Abuja, said this in a pre-litigation letter addressed to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.

    In the letter which was signed by his lawyer, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), the cleric said he indeed met Magu in Dubai earlier in the year but it was not for the purpose of purchasing a property.

    He said the suspended EFCC boss had travelled to Dubai for medical reasons and he only prayed with him.

    The cleric said the NAN report reeks of calumny, denigration, actuated by malice, and is calculated to ridicule and disparage him and cast a stain on his reputation; expose him to public hatred and contempt and injure him in his religious calling, as the General Overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International.

    The letter read in part, “We, however, wish to make the following clarifications to put the public records straight: That our client is the General Overseer of an Inter-denominational/Multi-religious Prayer Ministry.

    “That our client, only visited Mr. Ibrahim Magu in a hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, sometime in March 2020.

    “That our client never laundered any funds whatsoever for Mr. Ibrahim Magu or for anybody whatsoever. Our client does not own any foreign bank account anywhere in the world.

    “That there are no funds whatsoever traceable from Mr. Ibrahim Magu to our client’s bank accounts whatsoever neither has our client received any funds whatsoever from Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Our client has never received any funds whatsoever from anybody on behalf of Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

    “That our client does not own any property in Dubai. His name was never used to purchase any property whatsoever in Dubai, United Arab Emirates or anywhere else in any part of the world, neither has he purchased any property nor properties for Mr. Ibrahim Magu in any part of the world whatsoever.”

  • Tinubu, Osinbajo are Magu’s godfathers – Fani-Kayode

    Tinubu, Osinbajo are Magu’s godfathers – Fani-Kayode

    Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has alleged that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, are godfathers of the suspended Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

    Fani-Kayode in a Tweet on Sunday claimed that Magu never worked for President Muhammadu Buhari while in office but for his two godfathers.

    The former minister did not provide any proof of the so-alleged relationship.

    He said: “What is happening to Magu today was planned years ago. The real target is not Magu but those he worked for and protected for the last 4 years.

    “He NEVER worked for Buhari. He worked for Tinubu & Osinbajo. When they finish crushing him, they will move against his two godfathers.”

    Magu, is being held at the Police headquarters, Abuja, over allegations of lack of transparency in managing recovered assets and mismanagement of the EFCC.

    He is expected to reappear before the Justice Ayo Salami probe panel on Monday, to defend himself against several other allegations.

  • Magu faces fresh query over missing 332 houses, two oil vessels

    Magu faces fresh query over missing 332 houses, two oil vessels

    The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),Mr Ibrahim Magu, has again been accused of allegedly failing to give proper account of missing 332 out of the 836 recovered real estate property in March, 2018.

    A report by the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) confirmed the development, indicating that the unaccounted property was worth billions of naira.

    The report also noted massive wastage and deterioration of physical assets (including landed property, cars and vessels recovered by the EFCC due to poor management.

    It also noted with concern the failure to preserve and realise the economic value of the recovered assets, noting that some of the assets were recovered over 15 years ago and left fallow.

    “A disturbing example is the two vessels that allegedly sunk at NNS Beecroft Naval BASE, Lagos and NNS Pathfinder Naval Base in Port Harcourt without trace under the watch of the acting Chairman of EFCC.

    “The vessels named MT GOOD SUCCESS, MV PSV DERBY and MV THAMES were allowed to sink in spite of several warnings from the Navy on the need to evacuate the petroleum products in the vessels.

    “The total value of the assets lost due to the negligence runs into millions of US bollars

    “The (suspended) acting Chairman is yet to provide a report on what happened to these vessels,’’ the report said.

    NAN reports that Magu, who is currently facing charges of mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets as well as flagrant disobedience to directives and to court orders, would be expected to provide answers to the conflicting figures.

    The PCARA report also noted that the few consultants hired by EFCC were not managing a substantial number of the recovered assets and that the EFCC has no capacity to manage the entire assets on its own.

    The committee, therefore, alerted the nation on the economic and environmental implications of this negligent of duty by the commission.

    It equally observed that EFCC made conflicting submissions or returns to it in respect of the non-cash assets which substantially affected the committee’s assignment.

    The report read in part: “For instance, EFCC stated 836 as the number of Recovered Real Estate in the Original Returns it made to the President on 07/04/2017.

    “However, in its 1st Returns to PCARA on 13/12/2017, EFCC short changed the system and gave the figure of 339 thereby failing to account for 497 property.

    “It is interesting to note that when the Acting Chairman was further queried on this lapse, he made further contradictory 2nd return of 504 on 09/03/2018 thereby bridging the gap to 332 property.’’

    The committee identified lack of internal control mechanisms/ systems within EFCC and Lack of adequate returns by EFCC Departments and Zonal Offices as reasons for these discrepancies and inconsistencies by the commission.

    The suspended EFCC boss was also alleged to have neglected and refused to comply with the Regulations on the Management of Recovered Assets, 2019 as he embarked on disposing some of the property without regard to extant law.

    “These Regulations was issued in line with international best practices and to ensure that all the anti-corruption agencies report all their recovered assets in a database provided by the Federal Government.

    ’’It is important to note that the (suspended) Acting Chairman in apparent disregard of the regulation is disposing of these properties without regard to extant laws, and Regulations and without reference to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and in effect, there is no way to have an audit of the property.

    “This is also a clear sign that there is a deliberate attempt to hide the exact figures of recoveries, which is an indication of fraudulent intent.

    “These actions of the (suspended) Ag. Chairman in refusing the Regulation is a clear case of refusal to follow lawful instructions and directives contrary to the provisions of the Act that establish the EFCC,’’ a separate report on the matter, addressed to the president, further noted.

    According to the fresh report obtained by NAN, Magu and some top officials of EFCC were allegedly using these recovered assets to corruptly enrich themselves.

    The report also listed the number of the affected properties suspected to have been illegally acquired as well as the bank accounts of those individuals serving as fronts for Magu and the affected EFCC officials.

    “Most of the recovered assets are allegedly sold without anyone knowing and without proper records and without recourse to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing that has the mandate to undertake evaluation of such property.

    “Some of the assets have been taken over by EFCC officials while some are sold at a giveaway prices to friends and cronies of the Acting Chairman.

    “It is also on record that the (suspended) acting chairman is maintaining different accounts, including using proxies who return the benefit of the sold assets to him.

    “These funds are then used to procure property and lands in the names of some of his proxies,’’
    the report further stated.