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Tag: Magu

  • Magu writes CJN, wants Justice Nyako to stay off EFCC cases

    Magu writes CJN, wants Justice Nyako to stay off EFCC cases

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has written a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, asking him to order Federal High Court judge, Justice Binta Nyako, to stay off all EFCC cases henceforth.

    The EFCC said in a statement by its acting Spokesman, Mr. Tony Orilade, that the judge, who is the wife of former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, could not be trusted with EFCC cases since the anti-graft agency is currently prosecuting her husband.

    Recall that EFCC Prosecuting Counsel, Onjefu Obe, had told the court on November 21, 2018 during the trial of four alleged oil thieves that the concern of the commission to reassign all EFCC cases before Justice Nyako, borders on likely bias on part of the trial judge.

    The defendants: Umar Audu Bida, Truth Igogori, Ifenyinwa Nwankwesiri and Ogechukwu Obaji were accused of oil fraud to the tune of $1m.

    The EFCC had in 2017 arraigned the defendants before Justice Nyako on nine charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $1m.

    They allegedly defrauded Donald Latella of North Park LLC of the said sum in a business deal involving the supply of about two million barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil.

    The offence contravenes Section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

    They were arraigned alongside four companies: Universal Contractors, Lambda Energy Services Limited, Double Wonder Concept Limited, and ICS Energy Services Limited.

    They had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

    According to Obe, he had come to court fully prepared with the prosecution witnesses to proceed with the case. But very, unfortunately, the case (FHC/ABJ/C12/ 266/16), was not listed in the court’s schedule for today as it is yet to be reassigned to another court.”

    Counsel for the second defendant, Solomon Agada, also lamented that his client usually travels from Lagos to Abuja for the case. He, therefore, urged the court to intervene and called for the speedy reassignment of the case in order for the case to proceed.

    Both counsel, however, agreed to await the reassignment of the case and thereafter mutually agree on the next possible adjournment.

  • UK replies Magu over allegations of ‘shielding’ Alison-Madueke from investigations

    UK replies Magu over allegations of ‘shielding’ Alison-Madueke from investigations

    The United Kingdom Crime Agency has responded to the statement made by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, regarding the investigation of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The response was sequel to an email sent to the NCA Press Office in London by The Punch.

    In the email signed by Louise Powell, the Senior Communications Officer, said, “We have neither confirmed nor denied whether we have an investigation into Diezani Alison-Madueke.”

    On whether the NCA would be collaborating with the EFCC to extradite Diezani to Nigeria, the agency said it does not handle extradition outside the European Union countries because of the European Arrest Warrant agreement.

    Once issued, the EAW requires another member state within the EU to arrest and transfer a criminal suspect or sentenced person to the issuing state so that the person can be put on trial or complete a detention period.

    However, Nigeria, which is not a member of the EU, does not enjoy such privileges.

    The NCA therefore asked that questions regarding Diezani’s purported extradition be directed to the UK Home Office.

    Recall that Magu had, on Monday, said the EFCC was working with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to extradite the former petroleum minister because the UK authorities had “unnecessarily delayed” her case.

    When asked if her extradition to Nigeria would not affect her pending case in the UK, Magu said, “There is no court trial. She was being investigated even before I assumed office. So, it has taken so long and it is very unreasonable that she is not being tried there.

    “So, we are tired of waiting and that was why I said if you cannot prosecute her, bring her and we will prosecute her. There is no prosecution going on in the UK.

    “We are involved in the investigation in this country and outside the country including America and London. I have been there. We have worked and sat together.

    “We cannot wait endlessly. I think three years and above is sufficient for you to take her to court.

    “There is no court process against her in the UK. Nobody is prosecuting her there.”

  • Write a petition if you doubt authenticity of Tinubu’s wealth – Magu tells journalist

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has challenged a journalist questioning the source of wealth of All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu.

    He simply asked the journalist to write a petition against Tinubu and substantiate his allegations.

    Magu gave the charge in Abuja on Monday while fielding questions from reporters at an event held in commemoration of his third year in office.

    A journalist had asked Magu when he would probe Tinubu who had purportedly claimed in a video in August that he was richer than Osun State.

    The journalist also asked why Magu was refusing to answer questions on the video which allegedly captured the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, receiving bribes from contractors.

    In his response, Magu said, “You know what? If you are really interested, write a petition and see whether I won’t act. Go and write a petition and substantiate in the petition and find out if I won’t act. It is not for us to listen to people on radio and begin to act. Yes, we have intelligence but the surest way to get action is to go and write a petition and substantiate the contents of the petition and see whether I will not act.”

  • Disregard audio of Magu speaking about Fayose dying in custody – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed an audio clip of its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu saying nothing will happen if former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose dies in its custody.
    The former governor has been in custody of the anti-graft agency since he turned himself in on Tuesday.
    In a post on its Twitter page, the EFCC urged members of the public to disregard the audio, describing it as false.
    The post reads: “#Alert The EFCC alerts the public of an audio recording currently circulating in the social media in which Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, purportedly made comments to effect that nothing will happen peradventure Ayo Fayose, ex-Ekiti governor dies in custody.
    “Interestingly, the audio tape did not disclose the place where the conversation occurred and the person that Magu was supposedly talking to.
    “Members of the public are advised to disregard this disingenuous creation an handiwork of mischief makers intent on distracting the EFCC from the serious work of wrapping up the investigation into the corruption allegations against Fayose.
    “The audio recording is fake as the comments did not emanate from the Chairman of the EFCC.
    “Purveyors of this fake news especially a former spokesperson of a leading political party are warned to desist,” tweeted EFCC.

  • Why EFCC don’t have exact amount of looted funds – Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Wednesday said it was difficult to say exactly how much was looted from Nigeria.

    He blamed it on poor record keeping, adding that previous administrations’ lack of political will accounted for the poor rate of asset recovery from abroad.

    “It is difficult to estimate what Nigeria has lost because we have poor record keeping system,” he said.

    This is as a Queens Counsel (QC) Phillip Hackett said the United Kingdom might be reluctant to return Nigeria’s looted funds because of fear that they could be re-looted.

    According to him, Nigeria has only recovered a fraction of its loot hidden in the UK.

    “How much money has been recovered? Practically nothing. Nigeria has recovered so little,” said Hacket.

    He was the lead speaker at a session, with the theme: “Institutionalising the war against corruption – new approaches to assets tracing and recovery” in the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja,

    The session, which was chaired by Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Executive Secretary Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, featured Magu, represented by EFCC’s Director of Legal and Prosecution Department Chile Okoroama.

    Also on the panel were a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Mike Ozekhome, former Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) president Mrs Ayo Obe and a lawyer, Ehi Esoimeme.

    According to Hackett, the UK’s attitude towards Nigeria is that it cannot be relied on to account for returned assets.

    “The UK position is that Nigeria cannot be trusted with its money. That’s what underpins it (poor asset return rate), and it has to be addressed,” he said.

    He, however, said UK laws have been reviewed to make asset recovery and return easier.

    Magu criticised lawyers, some of who he said aid money laundering, urging the NBA to discipline its senior erring members.

    “Lawyers have been involved in money laundering; laundering of proceeds of crime. When they were asked to register with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SVUML) for regulation, they went to court. NBA said it could regulate itself. But how far has NBA gone in regulating itself? That is the issue.

    “I think the NBA Disciplinary Committee should be up and doing. I get embarrassed when NBA descends heavily on lawyers who are not considered to be significant, but they turn a blind eye to what big-time counsel are doing.

    “I think they have to do their work without looking at faces, no matter whose ox is gored. That is the only way that we can have confidence and respect for the Disciplinary Committee,” the EFCC chief said.

    Responding to a question on why the Federal Government pays so little (five per cent) to lawyers who help in asset recovery, Owasanoye said lawyers who handled such cases in the past were paid billions with nothing to show for it.

    He said the NBA also did nothing to rein in such lawyers who pocketed billions for doing no work.

    Owasanoye said: “The NBA as presently designed – its mindset – is not in a position to fight corruption, unless you want to deceive yourselves. I’m a member of the NBA. It’s my position, it’s not a secret. Every time I’ve had a chance to speak at NBA conferences, I always make the point using facts.

    “If the NBA will not take a position and deal with the issue, we’re going to be going round in circles. And the implication is that majority of the practitioners are going to be left in the fringes. They will not be able to survive.

    “It behoves the NBA to create mechanisms that will assure the public that it is dealing with the issue. Otherwise you stigmatise the entire profession for the sins of a few.”

    The PACAC Executive Secretary denied Ozekhome’s allegations that money recovered from abroad was being re-looted, saying all the cash recoveries were kept in a dedicated account and that none was spent without appropriation.

    Owasanoye said anyone alleging money had been re-looted under the Buhari administration should provide evidence.

    Ozekhome accused the Federal Government of engaging in selective war against corruption, adding that the NBA is silent in the face of abuses of rule of law.

    “The NBA has been sleeping. The NBA, to me, with all respect, has been greatly compromised. And I think the time has come for us lawyers to make up our minds, that if the incoming executive wants to go the way of the last NBA, there will be need to split the NBA from the old order to a new one.

    “We’re no longer having the NBA championing the cause of the common man in this country. People cannot even speak. Everybody is looking over their shoulders,” he said.

    He decried the fact that All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomes people who had been previously accused of corruption and declares them “sinless” once they decamp to the party.

    “In as much as I agree that once you catch a corrupt person you should prosecute the person, you cannot overlook the corruption in your own system,” Ozekhome said.

     

  • EFCC secures over 150 convictions in seven months – Magu

    The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Monday said the agency secured no fewer than 150 convictions in seven months.

    Magu made the disclosure on Monday at a stakeholder interactive session held at the Ibadan Zonal Office of EFCC.

    He stated that the agency had ensured the prosecution of all corruption cases irrespective of how highly placed the culprit was.

    ‘‘For us at EFCC, we are driven by courage, integrity, professionalism and commitment to the common task of improving the lots of our people at the grassroots as we promote working partnership with all stakeholders,’’ he said.

    The EFCC boss stressed that the agency had not and would not engage in a witch-hunt, adding that its activities were in line with international best practices.

    ‘‘In all that we do, we are guided first by the fear of God and patriotism to our fatherland and the rule of law.

    ‘‘I will continue to discharge my duties guided by fear of God, overriding interest of Nigeria and rule of law,’’ he said.

    Mr Magu, who stated that the commission had recorded notable achievements, added that it became accessible to Nigerians and had brought the anti-corruption campaign closer to the people.

    The EFCC boss solicited the support of all stakeholders, saying the fight against corruption must be collective.

    ‘‘Like we all know, corruption is the number one problem that has militated against the development of Nigeria, especially the very poor at the grassroots.

    ‘‘The havoc that corrupt practices has wrought on the Nigerian economy is, no doubt, endless.

    ‘‘This is why fighting it (corruption) to a standstill is not only a must but the only lifesaver for our country.

    ‘‘We must all join hands to kill corruption. We must fight this menace. There is no better time to prop up the anti-corruption campaign than now,’’ he said.

    Magu said it was pertinent for all Nigerians to see themselves as stakeholders in the fight against corruption.

    He called on journalists to see themselves as strategic partners in the fight against corruption and urged them to also expose corrupt practices around them.

    Dolapo Dosunmu, the State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), who commended Mr Magu for excellent performance, said the agency was making an impact in the country.

    She called on all stakeholders to see the fight against corruption as a collective one that all must support.

  • Corruption is most deeply entrenched culture in Nigeria – Magu

    The Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday described corruption as “most extensive and deeply entrenched culture” in Nigeria.

    Magu said between January and July this year, the Commission had secured 142 convictions including that of two former governors – Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba).

    Magu spoke through the Zonal head of EFCC in Ibadan, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, while addressing security agencies, paramilitary groups, Non- governmental agencies, civil society groups, students, voluntary organisations, trade groups and community leaders who joined the EFCC in a road walk against corruption.

    The exercise followed the adoption of July 11 as the African Anti-corruption Day, with the officials of the Ibadan Zonal office of the EFCC leading hundreds of protesters on a peaceful solidarity march from Iyaganku GRA to Cocoa House in Dugbe.

    The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, urged the people to support the present administration’s anti-graft campaign.

    The inscriptions on some of the placards read: “Beware of juju scam,” “ Fight against corruption, we will make Nigeria great again,” “Speak out, say no to corruption,” “ Red card for corruption,” “See something, say something, EFCC will do something” and “Support EFCC to fight corruption,” among others.

    Other agencies who joined the EFCC in the solidarity rally were – the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Directorate of State Services (DSS), police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Magu said: “This year’s event has a unique resonance coming against the backdrop of the AU declaration of 2018 as the African Year of Combating Corruption with the theme ‘winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation.

    “The designation of President Muhammadu Buhari as the Africa’s Anti-Corruption Champion also adds a distinct Nigerian flavour to this year’s event with the EFCC driving the process.

    “For us in Nigeria, today is a special day for obvious reasons. This is because our country has one of the most extensive and deeply entrenched culture of corruption on the African continent, if not in the whole world. This is manifested in the increasingly large number of corruption related investigations, litigations, convictions and recoveries made by the EFCC since 2003.

    “The depth and gravity of corruption can be seen in the fact that between January and July alone, the EFCC has secured 142 convictions, amongst which are that of Reverend Jolly Name and Chief Joshua Dariye, the former governors of Plateau and Taraba States respectively.

    “This is an indication that we are determined to win the corruption war, no matter how long it will take. The Commission has also traced and recovered illicit funds, as well as properties worth billions of dollars. This level of corruption is shocking, destructive and totally unacceptable. Therefore, the commemoration of the African Anti-Corruption day is important, timely and necessary.”

  • Borno 2019: Magu denies nursing governorship ambition

    The acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has denied nursing a governorship ambition of his state, Borno in 2019.

    This was revealed in a statement by the EFCC on Monday night.

    The agency also says Magu is considering suing the media that alluded to such ambition.

    Read the EFCC’s full statement below.

    The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to publications in a section of the online media, claiming that its acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is nursing a governorship ambition in Borno State.

    The publication, which first appeared on 247ureports.com comes with the mischievous headline, “Exclusive: Buhari Holds Secret Talks With Sheriff To Push For EFCC Magu’s Guber Ambition”. It purports that Mr. Magu was keen on pursuing the ambition, to seek “protection from arrest following a series of exposé that would lead to his conviction”.

    The report is false, malicious and an affront on Mr. Magu’s professional integrity. The EFCC chair who was recently named chairman of heads of anti -corruption agencies in Commonwealth Africa has been exemplary in the discharge of his duties as anti-graft czar and does not need protection from forces which exist only in the fecund imagination of the publisher of the Online news portal.

    Moreover, the disingenuous attempt to dress Magu in the garb of a politician is the height of mischief in fiction writing. Mr. Magu is not a politician‎, and is not nursing any governorship ambition.

    The EFCC chair who said he has taken notice of the consist campaign of calumny against his person by the online platform, disclosed that he has briefed his lawyers to initiate legal action against the news medium, and all others who published the libellous report.

     

  • Corruption: Magu rubbishes TI’s rankings, says ‘it is politicized’

    …reinstates commitment to fight against corruption

    The acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday rubbished Transparency International’s ranking of Nigeria in its latest Corruption Perception Index.

    Speaking to journalists at the Commission’s new headquarters, Magu said while he was worried by the ranking, he remained undeterred in his anti-corruption fight.

    “We will continue to fight corruption, it (ranking) doesn’t matter,” Mr Magu said.

    “There’s a lot of politics in this indices, I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it’s right.”

    Magu said as far as anti-corruption rating is concerned, Nigeria has done “very well.”

    “You are in this country, would you honestly say the situation is the same 12 years back?

    “So I don’t believe in this Transparency index, but we are doing everything possible to improve on our rating next year.”

    The latest Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International earlier this year showed that corruption in Nigeria worsened between 2016 and 2017.

    The report, which ranked Nigeria 148th out of 180 countries, showed a slight deterioration in the perception of corruption in public administration in Nigeriacompared to 2016 when Nigeria ranked 136th.

    The Presidency disagreed with the report, describing the ranking as “fiction.”

    But the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, welcomed it as a catalyst for Nigeria to do better in its fight against corruption rather than a setback.

    Adetokunbo Mumuni, the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, said rather than blame Transparency International’s ranking as political, the Nigerian government should intensify its fight against corruption.

    “Let us say as Nigerians that the ranking by Transparency International is indicative of the way we are in the fight against corruption,” Mumuni said.

    “But I will advise Magu and President Buhari to take the opinion and findings of Transparency International seriously so that where they say we are not doing well we move in that direction and do well. We must be seen to be doing the work effectively on our own.”

    The Corruption Perception Index (CPI), established in 1995, is one of the most respected international measurement of corruption trends. It is a composite indicator used to measure perceptions of corruption in the public sector in different countries around the world.