- Anti-Magu Camp Gives Buhari's 3 Names!...Pro Magu Fights Back!!
Daura Magu
AS
the plot thickens to stop the Acting Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, from becoming the
substantive chair of the Commission, three names have popped up as his
possible replacements. They are a former boss of the anti-graft agency,
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs
Service, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) and a retired Assistant Inspector-General
of Police, Amodu Ali, who is famous for investigating the $180million
Halliburton bribery scandal.
Investigation by our correspondent
revealed that the decision to prop up their names was part of the grand
plot by the powerful forces opposed to Magu to stop his re-nomination by
President Muhammadu Buhari. More names might also be propped up in the
next few days. But the Transparency International- Nigeria and some
civil society groups yesterday protested non-confirmation of Magu by the
Senate.
The TI and others described the security
report upon which the Senate based its decision as “curious.” A top
source said: “These forces do not want Magu re-nominated by the
President when the Senate returns from Christmas break. “This is why
they have recommended some people (at least three for now) who have
impeccable integrity like Magu as the next substantive chairman of EFCC.
“These are the Comptroller- General of
the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd), a former Chairman of
EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and a retired Assistant Inspector-General of
Police, Amodu Ali who investigated the $180million Halliburton bribery
scandal. “But President Buhari is just listening to arguments for and
against Magu. The ball is in the court of the President.” There were
however fears last night that these forces might go to court if Buhari
re-nominates Magu.
They are trying to hang on to the report
of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to seek some
ambiguous reliefs in court.” It was also learnt that pro- Magu
sympathisers are also pressing buttons to have the ears of the President
to stick to the Acting EFCC chairman. Another source added:
“Representations have been made in the last 24 hours to those close to
the President to insist on Magu. “Those sympathetic to Magu actually
approached an influential governor to intercede and let the President
get a second opinion on the DSS report.
“This situation is dicey as I talk to
you because both sides are embroiled in intense politics of survival.
“Those against Magu were busy yesterday celebrating that they have boxed
the Acting EFCC chairman to a corner.” Apart from Transparency
International, other civil society groups who protested against
non-confirmation of Magu by the Senate yesterday include Civil Society
Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Zero-corruption Coalition (ZCC)
They made their position known in a statement by the Executive Director
of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani).
The statement said: “The Civil Society
Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International-Nigeria
(TI) and Zero-corruption Coalition (ZCC) express concern at the
circumstances surrounding the nonconfirmation by the Nigerian Senate of
Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission
(EFCC), upon his appointment by the President.
“We find it worrisome that the
confirmation of the head of such a strategic anti-corruption agency is
taking such a long time, having been first appointed in November 2015,
and worse still at a time when the nation is reinvigorating the fight
against corruption. “CISLAC, TI- Nigeria and ZCC wonder if there is more
to the unfolding events than meets the eye. “We are further alarmed at
the circumstances preceding the last session in which the Upper Chamber
failed to confirm the appointee.
“The fact that the session was preceded
by a rowdy sitting and the Senators resorted to a closeddoor session
further highlights the lack of transparency in the confirmation process.
“We find the Senate’s reliance on a security report from the Department
of State Services (DSS) as a reason for the rejection of the
President’s appointee very curious.
“While we acknowledge that the Senators
have the power of confirmation as well as the right of recourse to
relevant institutions for vetting, this must be applied strictly for
public good and in very transparent and accountable manner. “CISLAC, TI
and ZCC therefore call on the Senate to make public the security report
it depended upon to reject the confirmation. “Merely reading it out in a
closed session and applying it to arrive at such far reaching decisions
fall short of the expectations of the electorate that they represent in
the exercise of their powers.
“We call on the DSS to publicly confirm
that they are the source of the report in question and authenticate the
content for the Nigerian Public to know. “Considering that the DSS is
also an agency in the executive arm, it should indicate if the report
was also shared with the President who appoints the EFCC chairman. This
is to ensure that it is discharging its functions as expected by law and
procedure.
“We call on the Presidency to publicly
state its position on the unfolding issues so that Nigerians can have a
clear picture and draw their own conclusions as public support is
crucial to a successful fight against corruption. “The position of the
EFCC chair is a very sensitive one and its occupant must be held to the
highest levels of integrity and credibility.
“A situation where individuals and
groups hide under clandestine and unverified documents and reports to
take decisions that could undermine the integrity of individuals and
institutions at the forefront of the anti-corruption efforts will be a
disservice to the nation and must not be allowed to stand.
“We notify the Senate that their
inability to come clean on these would only fuel the perception that
their failure to confirm the appointment of the EFCC chairman who has
acted for one year is linked to their personal and selfish desire to
protect themselves and scuttle the fight against corruption of which
several of their members have been beneficiaries. “We urge all
well-meaning Nigerians and the media to kick against all manners of
unjust decision or resolution by the Nigerian Senate to sabotage the
on-going anti-corruption fight in the country."The NATION
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