…says ex-EFCC boss can still be prosecuted after retirement
Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, says the report of the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel on the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has not been discarded but still being considered for the appropriate action.
Dingyadi disclosed this at a press briefing, on Thursday, in Abuja, by the presidential communication team at the Aso Rock Presidential villa, Abuja.
Magu was recently promoted an Assistant Inspector General of Police alongside seven other commissioners of police by the Police Service Commission.
The PSC, on Monday, confirmed Magu’s elevation to the rank of AIG amid his expected retirement from the police. He clocked the mandatory retirement age of 60 on May 5, 2022.
Recall that in July 2020, Magu, who was then acting chairman of the EFCC, was arrested, detained, and suspended.
He was later brought before the Salami-led panel probing allegations of gross misconduct against him.
The panel in November 2020, submitted its report and recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari. But the Federal Government has since then not officially released the report of the panel.
The Salami-led panel Cable had recommended Magu’s sack and prosecution for alleged corruption and abuse of office.
It also recommended that the former EFCC boss be referred to the Inspector-General of Police for “necessary disciplinary action.”
Magu was further recommended for prosecution for the alleged offences.
But inspite of the panel’s recommendation, Magu returned to work at the police headquarters with his former rank of commissioner of police before his appointment as the anti-graft agency’s boss.
Answering questions from newsmen during the press briefing, the police affairs minister disclosed that Magu could still be prosecuted even after his retirement from the Force, if indicted.
On Magu’s promotion to AIG, the minister said the elevation of police officers to the next rank was the duty of the PSC.
He said, “This is an issue that should have been addressed by PSC, which has been saddled with the responsibility to conduct promotion for police. They are not here and I’m aware that the police service commission is directly under the presidency so I cannot speak for them.
“What I know is that Mr Magu has already retired. I think that is all I can say now. The fact that he was promoted is a matter for the police service commission to throw more light on.
“I’m not aware of the position of the government on the report you are talking about and I think it is still being under consideration and it does not mean that when he retires the law won’t catch up with him whenever is found guilty of one thing or the other. I think it is not completely a finished business.”