…decries anti-graft boss’ prosecution
Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption on Monday deplored the alleged arrest and ongoing prosecution of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
PACAC member, Prof Femi Odekunle, described Magu’s ordeal as the result of an ongoing power play among the power blocs in the Presidency.
Odekunle, who is a professor of Criminology, said, “The alleged arrest of Ibrahim Magu for alleged corrupt practices, the real information that was given to us was that he was not arrested but invited to appear before a panel, which he was aware of. To us, all these seem to be the outcome of some power-play among the power blocs within the presidency in which the Attorney-General, Malami, seems to be an arrowhead or an agent of a bloc that is not interested in the Buhari anti-corruption fight.
“Recall that Magu had twice been rejected confirmation on this or that excuse. Recall too that the man’s name has not been submitted since 2019, even though the 9th Assembly was willing to consider, among others.
“The understanding of PACAC is that if anybody against Magu is guilty of corruption, they should be dealt with. I remember that as a member of PACAC, I was forced on the television to say that the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, should leave the office and tried.
“So, we are not against anybody being tried, but we are saying that President Buhari must be careful not to shoot his anti-corruption fight on the foot because without Magu in EFCC, I do not think there would be much concerning our anti-corruption fight.”
The university don urged President Muhammadu Buhari to see through the ongoing shenanigans against Magu.
Odekunle also appealed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, to probe the ongoing drama and offer proper advice to the President.
He said, “Our opinion is that the present Attorney-General, who we know, because we are the policy/advisory body to anti-corruption fight, that Malami is not really committed to the anti-corruption fight. To us, he must be allegedly exploiting his loyalty and closeness to Buhari for his own personal or peer-group interest. What about the PIIB case that had been on since 2015? He did not bring it up until it blew up.
“The President should wake up in the ongoing shenanigan concerning Magu. Our hope is also in that fact that the incumbent Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, should come to play here and give proper advice to the President. The PACAC is not pleased with the attempt to rubbish the man.”