The Presidency has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to probe the suspended acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, in 2018.
According to a senior presidential aide, the President gave the order after some power brokers pushed for Magu’s nomination as the acting EFCC chairman.
He noted that the DSS, during its investigation, uncovered a series of financial irregularities for Magu is now facing a presidential probe for.
The aide said Magu’s alleged offences were listed in a 2016 report by the DSS which reveals that the Borno state born officer was living in an N40 million mansion.
According to the aide, the President was shocked at the damning report presented by the DSS on the suspended EFCC boss.
“If Magu was a man who can read the signs, he should have asked himself why the president did not re-present his name to the Senate for confirmation as EFCC chairman since the new national assembly was inaugurated,” the aide said.
The presidential aide revealed that the report of the presidential committee on the audit of recovered assets led to the DSS investigation.
He said the three-member committee was inaugurated on November 22, 2017 by Buhari to audit all assets recovered by agencies of the federal government from May 29, 2015 when his government was inaugurated.
The committee submitted its report six months behind schedule because of the extent of the work, and the aspect of EFCC “took the president by surprise”.
The report said the EFCC reported a total naira equivalent of N46,038,882,509.87, while the naira equivalent of the foreign currency lodgements were N37,533,764,195.66, “representing a shortfall of N8,505,118,314.21″.
The aide said after President Buhari read the report of the committee, he immediately asked the DSS to investigate Magu. He said the DSS identified several properties allegedly owned by Magu in Dubai and other financial recklessness.
The Report read; “In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.”
“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.”
“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m. Investigations show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.”
“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.”
“Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high-profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels. On 24 June, 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.”
“Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns,” the DSS report said.
