The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Magu, on Monday, appears before the Presidential Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari. The financial crime boss was quizzed by the panel for six hours.
The interrogation took place at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Magu was whisked to the venue by the armed operatives of the Department of State Services.
The panel, which was inaugurated about six weeks ago, was headed by the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (retd). The panel included other seven members including the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Mike Ogbizi.
Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS and other related agencies also have representatives in the panel.
It was reported that Magu was accosted by security agents in plain clothes in front of the old EFCC headquarters on Fomella Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, about 12noon on Monday.
It was learnt that Magi was in his own convoy before he was shown an invitation letter from the presidential panel requesting his presence.
It was also gathered that Magu explained to the security agents that he would honour the invitation on a future date, but the security agent refused to accept Magu’s explanation and insisted that he should follow them to the Presidential Villa.
He has then whisked away and brought before the panel, where he responded to several questions that were directed at him.
A source in the EFCC said, “Attempts to bring Magu before the panel in the past had proved abortive. So, on Monday, a team of security agents in plain clothes accosted him around the old EFCC office in Wuse 2.
“Magu’s men quickly put up a resistance but the security officials on the other side quickly corked their guns and insisted that they were following presidential orders. They immediately took Magu into custody and brought him before the panel.”
Magu has been acting chairman for almost five years. We learnt that 24 allegations were levelled against him.
It was gathered that most of the allegations were from a report by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and a DSS report which was submitted to the Senate in 2016 and 2017.
The accusations against the EFCC Boss include living above his means, fraternizing with corrupt persons and diversion of recovered funds among many others.
