Main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday, demanded the trial of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
The PDP, therefore, urged the Federal Government to immediately charge Magu to court to enable him to clear his name over allegations of corruption levelled against him.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement titled, “Fraud Allegations: PDP Demands Magu’s Immediate Arraignment In Court…Rejects Pat on Wrist Approach,“ said the delay in arraigning Magu was raising concerns about the anti-graft war.
The statement read, “The delay by the Federal Government to arraign the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, over allegations of fraud is raising public apprehensions over the integrity of the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“The delay is heightening suspicion in the public space over alleged attempt to give Magu a soft landing in order to cover up for certain top officials of the Buhari administration as well as some leaders of the All Progressives Congress alleged to have been indicted by the suspended EFCC chairman, in the course of his investigation by the Presidential Panel.”
The PDP said its position was predicated on conflicting reports on the status of the processes related to Magu’s ongoing investigations and the direction of the Federal Government on the matter.
It added, “Our party holds that where there are no undesirable underhand dealings, any government that is committed to the fight against corruption, in such a manner that the Buhari Presidency wants the world to believe it does, should have since perfected its processes and arraign the suspended EFCC acting Chairman in court, particularly with the weight of allegations and revelations unearthed at the Presidential panel.
“The fact is that the allegations of fraud including alleged stealing of billions of naira recovered by the EFCC among other accusations, which also include alleged transfer of stolen money to certain government officials, are already in the public domain.
“The expectation of Nigerians, therefore, is for the Federal Government to immediately arraign Magu before a court of competent jurisdiction and prosecute him in line with the dictates of our laws.”