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Tag: Magu

  • No escape route for past, present corrupt Rivers Govt official – Magu

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has expressed optimism that cCourt cases barring it from investigating and prosecuting past and present officials of the Rivers State Government accused of corruption instituted about 13 years ago may finally be vacated by the Supreme Court.

    The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who expressed the optimism, while fielding questions from a Cross-section of Journalists at EFCC Zonal Office Port Harcourt, said “We are very optimistic about the Supreme Court vacating such encumbrances because in our view, such cases do no longer hold water as various court judgments have affirmed categorically that no court can stop EFCC and other security agencies from investigating anybody accused of corruption, not even Judges. We believe that the issues no longer hold water and overtaken by events.”

    Magu assured Rivers people and Nigerians that immediately the legal bottlenecks are cleared by the Apex court, most of corruption cases involving past and present officials of Rivers State Government would be investigated and those found culpable would be prosecuted.

    The EFCC boss said that next to Lagos State, Rivers State tops in corruption index in money Laundering and illegal oil bunkering among the cases under the radar of the anti-graft agency.

    Giving an overview of performances of the Agency, Magu stated the in 2019, 1,245 convictions were successfully secured, including that of three former governors.

    He said the convictions were unparalleled since the agency was established.

  • EFCC helps FG to save N4.5bn monthly – Magu

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said its intervention had assisted to save N4.5 billion monthly, lost to ‘ghost workers’ on the federal government’s payroll.

    A statement on by EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, quoted the commission’s Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, as saying this while delivering a lecture on Thursday at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja.

    Magu spoke on the topic “Corruption and Anti-corruption Strategies in Nigeria: Way Forward,” at the Course 28 Study Programme of NDC with the theme: “Economic Diversification and National Development”.

    He reiterated the commitment of the current administration to rid the country of corruption, adding that the involvement of the EFCC had helped in fighting corrupt practices.

    Magu also commended the introduction of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) into salary payment, which he said had assisted to save such amount for the government.

    “The involvement of the EFCC in tackling the scourge of ghost workers in the civil service has led to a redemption of over N4.5 billion naira monthly.

    “The EFCC has been engaged in eradicating ‘ghost workers’ from the federal government’s payroll which has resulted in saving as much as N4.5 billion naira monthly.

    “The Bank Verification Number (BVN) has been an effective tool in carrying out investigations effectively, as it has curtailed the opening of fake bank accounts by fraudulent individuals.

    “The only gateway to development is through fighting corruption.

    “If Nigeria breaks away from corrupt practices in government businesses and in the private sector, we will transform into a model state overnight,” he said.

    The commission’s acting chairman disclosed that the commission had secured up to 2,165 convictions over a period of 10 years between 2009 and 2019.

    He added that 70 per cent of it was achieved between 2016 and September 2019 under his watch.

    The EFCC boss called for more collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies through the National Anti -Corruption Strategy aimed to bring about coherence and synergy among security agencies in the country.

    The Commandant of NDC, Rear Adm. Markson Kadiri, emphasised the need for proper utilisation of funds, urging participants to key into the corruption fight.

    “We all have a role to play to ensure that monies meant to be used for public good will be applied according to what and how they are meant to be utilised,” he said.

  • Malabu Oil Block: Magu denies being ‘used’ by Osinbajo to prosecute Adoke

    …releases evidence against ex-AGF

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has said a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has a case to answer over the Settlement Agreement on Malabu Oil Block (OPL 25).

    He said Adoke has been offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo did not discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Adoke.

    He said the EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone as being insinuated by Adoke.

    He said after satisfying his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight Adoke should make himself available for trial.

    Magu, who made his position known in a statement through the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission’s investigation has implicated Adoke in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214.

    He said the probe of OPL 245 was not a witch-hunt in any form.

    He said: “It is important for the public to know that the investigation of the lucrative Oil Prospecting License 245 Settlement deal, otherwise known as the Malabu Scandal, by EFCC was not an enterprise in witch-hunt or malice.

    “The Magu-led leadership of the commission, in consideration of persistent public demand for closer scrutiny of the transaction, coupled with emerging information suggestive of opacity in the consummation of the deal, acted in national interest to determine that overall public good was not sacrificed on the altar of personal interest of those who perfected the deal.

    “The investigation had been discreet, with no threat of direct physical harm to Adoke or any other person implicated in the deal.

    “The commission’s investigation holds Adoke liable in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214 between Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, belonging to former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete and the federal government of Nigeria in 2010.”

    The EFCC chairman released the details of the investigations into Malabu Oil Block scandal.

    He added: “It could be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had revoked the OPL 245, which the late General Sani Abacha granted to Etete, who was his Petroleum Minister and reassigned it Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. Etete’s Malabu Oil and Gas, however, reclaimed the oil block in 2006 through the court. While Shell challenged the decision, a fraudulent settlement and resolution was perfected under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government with Shell and Eni buying the oil block from Malabu in the sum of $1.1billion.

    “EFCC’s investigations however revealed crimes, that border on conspiracy, forgery of bank documents, bribery, corruption and money laundering to the tune of over $1.2 billon against Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, Shell Nigeria Ultra deep (SNUD) Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) and their officials. Some of those officials are already facing criminal trials in Switzerland and Italy.

    “The investigations further revealed that Etete and others fraudulently received an aggregate sum of US$ 801,540,000 (Eight Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars) from Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd and ENI SPA in relation to the oil prospecting license.

    “Adoke as the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice allegedly abused his office in respect of the granting of the oil prospecting license OPL 245 to Shell and ENI.

    “A prima facie case, bordering on official corruption was established by the Commission following the investigations, culminating in court charges against Adoke, Etete and others, which is still pending before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court.”

    He advised Adoke to return home for trial.

    “The arraignment of Adoke SAN, Etete and others could not take place because they along with other defendants have remained at large, refusing to make themselves available for trial.

    “The former chief law officer of the federation prefers to remain in self-exile, and engage the Commission in needless media war.

    “Having now satisfied his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight in the mould of a semi author-biography, Adoke should now make himself available for trial,” he said.

    Magu however faulted alleged attempts by Adoke to rewrite history.

    He said: “The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu is alarmed by the brazen attempt by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to rewrite history and portray himself as victim of persecution regarding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) investigation of the OPL 245 Settlement Agreement (Malabu).

    “In the last few days the Nigerian media has been awash with previews of Adoke’s book, titled: “Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney General,” in which he took aim at the EFCC boss as being part of a deadly triumvirate that had been hounding and persecuting him since he left office in 2015. The other two alleged traducers, mentioned by Adoke are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume. Adoke claims that he had been viciously maligned by this threesome to the extent that he contemplated suicide.

    “Specifically, he claimed in Chapter 8 of the book, that Magu was recruited by Prof. Osinbajo to hound and persecute him despite, as he claimed, his role in reinstating Magu to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “Adoke attributes his source of information on the alleged Osinbajo instruction to Magu against him to an unnamed governor from the North West, who according to him, claimed Magu told him that he had the instruction of Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “Adoke also claims that an unnamed senator also confided in him that Magu nursed a personal grudge against him because he believed that he (Adoke) owned half of the Centenary City in Abuja.

    “That Adoke neither named the North-West governor nor the Senator that provided the weighty intelligence on which he took Magu to the guillotine in his book, could only mean one thing: the claims are tissues of lies, contrived to entertain and attract underserved attention to himself.

    “The acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu categorically states that at no time did the Vice President discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Mr. Adoke. It is wicked and evil to make such a false allegation against anybody especially where it is based on hearsay.”

    Magu accused Adoke of employing marketing gimmick to wet public appetite for his book.

    He added: “These yarns, being spewed by hirelings of the former AGF are nothing but a marketing gimmick, dubiously orchestrated to wet public appetite and sufficiently stir curiosity ahead of the official release of the book on Monday, September 16, 2019.

    “But it is obvious that what Adoke is offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance is nothing but a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    “The accounts in Chapters 8 and 9 as it relates to the EFCC and its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu are not only inaccurate but self-serving.

    “For the records and emphasis, Magu never received any instructions from the Vice President, neither had he communicated verbally or in writing to any governor from the North-West or senator about such a patently false purported instruction from Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “The EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone. Adoke’s ploy is simple. He wants to create a false narrative that the offenses for which he has been charged are not genuine but are the product of some high level conspiracy against him. But, first of all, there is no discernible reason for such a conspiracy. Secondly, it is an entirely false premise. It is clear that this is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws.

    “Adoke ran well outside the track when he said he was instrumental to reinstating Magu, to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “ The Commission is unaware of Adoke’s role in Magu’s return to the Commission in 2012 after being away for a few years. It is well known that the EFCC Acting Chairman is a pioneer staff of the Commission, with many stripes to his sleeves by way of accomplishments that have no link to Adoke.

    “Magu and the EFCC have no interest in any public spat with Adoke who remains a suspect under investigation for criminal offences and against whom a competent court had issued a subsisting warrant for his arrest.

    “ The said warrant has already been executed by the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) which placed him on its wanted list. The option before Adoke is to return home and answer to his charges.

    “It is however gratifying that the former AGF abandoned the idea of committing suicide as taking that route would have amounted to a monumental waste of resources on the part of the EFCC. So much has been spent in diligently investigating the OPL 245 scandal that the Commission needs Adoke to be alive to answer to his charges, and clear his name before the court.

    “It makes no sense to deceive the people with claims that he had been exonerated of any wrong doing by the court. As a senior advocate, he should know that a civil suit cannot exonerate one from criminal liability.”

  • Foreign countries frustrating efforts to repatriate stolen funds – Magu

    The acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has lamented the difficulties being experienced in the repatriation of stolen assets traced to foreign countries, making a clarion call on international law enforcement agencies to assist the agency in this regard.
    “The process of repatriating monies stashed abroad has been very frustrating and disappointing, yet we have done everything possible, gone out of our way to encourage our sister agencies, but cooperation is almost nil,” he said.
    Magu expressed the concern on Friday at the EFCC Head Office, Jabi, Abuja, during a visit by Dr. Joe Abah, Country Director of DAI Nigeria, an international development firm implementing programs covering governance, in more than 100 countries worldwide.
    He said: “We have been investigating a number of cases for over four years working with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, National Crimes Agency and even the Crown Prosecution Service, we have done everything possible, gone out of our way to encourage our sister agencies, but except there is a third party involved there is no cooperation.”
    While noting that “the Swiss have been more cooperative”, Magu observed that “the others never disclose their findings”, and are “very reluctant to get the proceeds repatriated”.
    “We are willing to go outside this country to give evidence, and to share the intelligence that we have,” he stressed.
    He further noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has remained unwavering in his vision and mission of ensuring victory in the anti-corruption crusade.
    “The next level in the corruption fight is promising, there is political will and we are going to be daring,” he said.
    He further noted the importance of inter-agency collaboration between the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Fraud Offences Commission, ICPC, the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, stressing that multi-agency collaboration was key to winning the corruption war.
    Noting that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015 has been “very helpful”, he opined that “majority of the people in the Judiciary are not doing well, but a few of them are, and we use to have dialogue with them to share our experience, and this has been very helpful”.
    He further revealed that from January till date, the EFCC has secured about 550 convictions.
    While commending the MacArthur Foundation and the DAI for their support of the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria, he called for more support for the EFCC in all areas possible.
    According to Abah, the visit was part of efforts aimed at further supporting the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria.
    “We recognize the valuable work EFCC is doing to preventing, investigating, prosecuting and combating financial and economic crimes,” he said.

  • InterPol: Magu expresses concern over UK’s 'slow action' on Diezani

    Mr Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed concern over the slow pace of action from the United Kingdom (UK) on the corruption case, involving Diezani Alison-Madueke.
    Diezani, a former Minister of Petroleum, who is being prosecuted by the UK government on issues of corruption.
    EFCC spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, quoted Magu to have said this when he received the team of International Criminal Police Organisation (InterPol) in his office.
    Magu regreted that the matter had dragged on in the UK for more than four years with no visible result and no end in sight.
    “There is the case of Diezani which has been going on for over four years and the amount involved is about 2.4 billion dollars and no kobo has been recovered from overseas.
    “Though, we have recovered some of the proceeds of the crime, we are still tracing others,” he said.
    Magu, however, noted that the commission’s relationship with InterPol had made it easier to place suspects on red notice.
    He disclosed that getting Diezani, Dan Etete, (former petroleum minister), Mohammed Adoke (former attorney general and minister of justice), all of whom are overseas and facing fraud cases in Nigeria, back to the country had been a problem.
    He, therefore, urged their new countries of residence to either prosecute them or hand them over to Nigeria “since they are Nigerians.”
    According to the statement, InterPol’s Coordinator on Anti-corruption, Mr Sebastian Bley, commended the efforts of the EFCC in the fight against corruption.
    “We are fostering our relationship with selected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria because we are doing a set of activities which have been fruitful.
    “One area we will need to be stronger is the area of case coordination support,” he said.

  • Magu decorates NYSC DG anti-corruption ambassador

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has conferred on the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the honour of ‘Anti-Corruption Ambassador’.
    The anti-graft agency boss awarded the newly appointed NYSC DG with the prestigious award on Monday when the latter led his team on a visit to the headquarters of the EFCC.

    Among others, the pair discussed potential collaboration between the two agencies in the fight against corruption.
    Like Magu, the NYSC DG is renowned for his uncomprising, dogged and zero tolerance to corruption.
    The visiting DG was also presented with a gift by the EFCC Acting Chairman.

  • Its difficult retrieving stolen assets abroad – Magu

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu on Thursday said the Federal Government was determined to recover stolen assets hidden abroad despite it being a “complex” process.
    He spoke in Lagos after a road-walk to mark the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Day, which is held every July 11.
    This year’s theme is: “Towards a Common African Position on Asset Recovery.”
    Magu, represented by EFCC Lagos Zonal Head Mr Mohammed Isa-Rabo, referring to a report by a high-level panel on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF), said Africa loses over $50 billion yearly through illicit financial outflows.
    “A large portion of these outflows is made up of illegally acquired assets that are located all over the world.
    “As we are all aware, asset tracing, freezing, management and eventual repatriation are a long and complex process.
    “As a result, heads of anti-corruption agencies in Africa have persistently sought the support and collaboration of the global community in repatriating stolen assets back to African countries.
    “The need to strengthen international cooperation amongst the anti-corruption agencies in Africa for purposes of developing an African common position framework on asset recovery and return can, therefore, not be over-emphasised,” the EFCC Acting Chairman said.
    He noted that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has made the fight against corruption and the recovery of stolen assets a key agenda.
    This, he said, has resulted in significant recoveries of looted assets that were acquired through mismanagement of public funds.
    “It is against this background that today’s convergence of all relevant anti-corruption stakeholders (domestic and international) to reflect on the challenges of asset recovery in Africa and solicit contributions and support towards developing a framework for an African common position on asset recovery is very important.
    “Besides, there is need to create awareness and engage the citizens in asset recovery efforts.
    “All hands must be on deck in response to the clarion call from across the world to defeat corruption. We must all demand the culture of integrity and accountability to win the fight against corruption,” Magu said.
    The EFCC Acting Chairman emphasised that corruption remains Nigeria’s and Africa’s greatest problem, with resources that should have delivered the good life to the majority being cornered by a privileged few, leaving the continent underdeveloped.
    “The Commission recognises the fact that enduring success in the fight against economic crimes and corruption can only be achieved when all stakeholders embrace this important fight.
    “This is why we will continue to encourage us all to shun crimes and all acts of corruption.
    “Let me emphasise again that the future of this country belongs to us all. The decision we make today will determine the type of society our children will live in. Together we can make Nigeria great again,” Magu added.
    A leader of the Movement against Corruption (MAC), a coalition of 250 civil society organisations, Dr Joe-Okei Odumakin, said it was gratifying that the AU set up the day with a view to combating the continent’s biggest scourge: corruption.
    “Africa, our great continent, is bleeding under the heavy weight of corruption. If Africa does not kill corruption, corruption will kill us. More than $50billion of our resources is being starched away through illicit flows yearly.
    “The poorest people we can find in this world are from Africa. Instead of us putting the feet of our youths on the pedestal of prosperity, they are being put on the pedestal of corruption.
    “Hunger, war and terrorism are as a result of corruption. But we must all ensure that we keep our children alive. We can longer continue to agonise, but we must organise.
    “We can’t fold our arms akimbo, while our country is bled dry. That is the essence of this walk,” Odumaki said.
    She frontline activist urged Nigerians to join the fight by speaking up against acts of corruption and by blowing the whistle.
    “When we see something, we must say something. The EFCC alone cannot fight that war against corruption; the government alone cannot do that either.
    “So, we must all, wherever we find ourselves, make the fight against corruption our battle cry.
    “I am an incurable optimist and I am so optimistic that, if we all join hands, we will be able to repatriate all our stolen funds.
    “All of us here remain the lubricants for the survival of the entity called Nigeria and, indeed, Africa.
    “So, we must all be ready to confront this scourge. I believe that African will flourish again,” she added.

  • DNFIs safe havens for money laundering – Magu

    Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has described Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DNFIs) as safe havens for money-laundering activities.

    The commission’s spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday, that Magu stated this at a workshop to sensitise Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs).

    The workshop, organised by EFCC in collaboration with Space for Change, had “Effective Implementation and Regulations of AML/CFT within the NPO Sector” as theme.

    Magu was represented by Director, Special Control against Money Laundering Unit of the commission, Mr Francis Usani.

    According to him, as a result of lack of adequate supervision and regulation of NPOs and by extension DNFIs, criminals have now turned their focus on the DNFIs sector to perpetrate money-laundering and terrorism financing.

    He said that the vulnerability of DFNIs in developed and developing economies to the scourge of money laundering and terrorism financing had encouraged the perpetuation of the vice.

    “Money-laundering and terrorism-financing will continue to thrive, especially with criminals continuously discovering new methods of exploiting the vulnerability of DFNIs and the legal systems.

    “The DNFIs have been identified as the most vulnerable sector in money-laundering and terrorism-financing because criminals no longer use the conventional financial systems like banks, to launder their ill-gotten wealth” he said.

    The acting chairman urged non-profit organisations to be conscious of their obligations and responsibilities under the Nigerian AML/CFT regime and develop a culture of compliance with its measures.

    Executive Director, Space for Change, Mrs Victoria Ohaeri, posited that non-profit organisations believed that compliance to money-laundering/terrorism-financing was important to their work, and “to the entire sector and for the betterment of the country.”

    “Civil Society Organisations are a major ally of the government in the fight against money-laundering and terrorism-financing.

    “We are willing to cooperate, comply, engage and at the same time we are also concerned about the space which we operate, in ensuring that due compliance is done without adding additional burden in the work we do.”

  • N5bn libel suit: DSS report on Magu inadmissible, court rules

    An Ikeja High Court on Thursday rendered a copy of the Department of State Security (DSS) report to the Nigerian Senate on Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) inadmissible.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Doris Okuwobi in a ruling during the ongoing N5billion libel suit filed by Magu against the publishers of The Sun Newspapers had held that the report was inadmissible due to fact that it was not a Certified True Copy.

    “I hereby accept the submission of the claimant’s (Magu) counsel to the effect that it is only a certified true copy of a public document properly issued by a public officer that is admissible under Section 104(1) of the Evidence Act.

    “There is no provision in the Act making ordinary photocopies of public documents without certification as admissible.

    “I find the document not admissible as it is not in admissible form. The document is hereby rejected and marked as exhibit rejected number one,” Justice Okuwobi said.

    NAN reports that during proceedings on Feb. 28, Mr Charles Ewelunta, the defence counsel for the publishers of the Sun Newspapers while cross-examining Mr Usman Zakari, an EFCC investigator, had sought to tender the DSS report on Magu.

    However Magu’s counsel Mr Wahab Shittu objected to the tendering of the report on the grounds that it was not a Certified True Copy (CTC).

    Following the ruling, Ewelunta continued the cross-examination of Zakari who is the the Head of Intelligence and Special Operations Unit of the EFCC.

    Zakari said he worked closely with the anti-graft boss and that he started to view Magu from a different perspective after reading the allegedly damaging publication.

    “I work with him closely, I know him very well. The claimant is an asset to the EFCC, he is a man of honour and integrity. Due to this publication, I don’t hold him in as high regard as before.

    “I’m not aware that the claimant associates with certified corrupt Nigerians, it is correct that the DSS investigated the claimant but I’m unaware of all the investigations the DSS conducted against the claimant.

    “I read the story which is the subject of this suit online that is why we are here,” he said.

    Zakari under cross-examination denied allegations that Magu had property beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    “The claimant does not have any property out of the country. He has a house in Kano, a townhouse jn Karshi area of Abuja and a family house in Maiduguri.

    “I have visited those three properties and he does not have any property outside Nigeria, that publication falsely mentioned he owned two properties in the highbrow area of Maitama, Abuja.

    “It is not correct that the claimant is not worthy to be entrusted with responsibilities and it is also not correct that the claimant is lacking in integrity.

    “We are in court because we want the ownership of those Maitama houses be proved and if proved otherwise, the court should grant our prayers,” Zakari said.

    Following the EFCC investigator’s evidence, Shittu told the court that there were two more subpoenaed

    witnesses who are to testified before the claimant closes his case against The Sun Newspapers.

    Justice Okuwobi adjourned the case until June 6, for further hearing.

    NAN reports that the acting EFCC Chairman is suing the publishers of the Sun Newspaper, claiming N5billion in damages over a publication that alleged that the DSS had uncovered two houses in Maitama, Abuja which were traced to his wife.

    The EFCC boss is also demanding that the Sun Newspapers publish an apology and retract the allegedly libellous publication.

    Magu while giving evidence during proceedings on Dec. 17, 2018, denied owning two houses in Mataima, Abuja.

    He had said: “The publication is totally false. Even if I have the money, I wouldn’t buy houses in Maitama.

    “They said the houses are located in the Darrubbe and Missouri, Maitama and that they belong to my wife.

    “My wife Fatima Yakaka Magu is a civil servant and cannot afford to buy houses in Maitama.

    “I am an international man and the publication has damaged my reputation. The name Magu does not only end with me, the publication caused a whole lot of trauma for my lineage.”

  • Court orders substituted service on Ag EFCC Chairman

    An FCT High Court in Apo, on Tuesday granted leave for substituted service on the acting Chairman of the Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu .
    Justice Silvanus Oriji , gave the order substituted service, after listening to the submissions of Chief Mike Ozekhome ,SAN,
    counsel to an Abuja-based lawyer, Monday Ubani and a former Senator, Christopher Enai.
    Oriji had on March 26, granted leave to an exparte motion filed by Ozekhome to charge Ubani and Enai to court or release them on bail on or before March, 28.
    The judge held that the court had power to make an order for substituted service of the process where it appears that prompt service cannot be conveniently effected.
    ”In exercise of the power of the court under Order 7 rule 11, I grant this motion,” he said.
    He said since the bailiff, Ishaya Markus, was denied access to Magu by the armed security personnel at his office at the EFCC Headquarters.
    Ozekhome said that the operatives told the bailiff that he can only see Magu on invitation.
    Ozekhome, in the motion exparte prayed the court to order form 48 and 49 be served on any officer at the mail registry of the Chairman of the EFCC and legal Department at Headquarters in Jabi.
    He also prayed an order of the court by posting same at the gate of the head office of EFCC.
    Ubani, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch and Enai, ex senator representing Bayelsa were invited and detained by the EFCC operatives on March,19.
    The applicants were detained for standing as sureties for Ngozi Olejeme, who once served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund from 2009 to 2015.
    They are still yet to be charge to court by the EFCC.