EFCC Core Operatives: This Is Our Chance To Get Rid Of Magu, The Master Of ‘Impunity’

By Adenike Lucas

Core operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have come back stronger following the arrest of a popular blogger Abubakar Sidiq Usman “Abusidiqu” on the August 8, 2016.

Abusidiqu who was accused of “cyber stalking” the EFCC boss, Mr Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, had published unfavourable articles about the acting chairman and the immediate former boss of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde. News reporters claim that it was these articles that led to Abusidiqu’s arrest.

EFCC Staff who have been in touch with Adenike Lucas after the ‘illegal’ arrest of Abusidiqu, say the ordeal has made ‘stronger’ their pursuit to see the back of Mr Magu of EFCC who only returned from a trip in the United States, five days ago to deliver a paper; ‘This Is Our Chance.’

According to one, “the arrest of Abusidiqu who was detained on the instruction of Mr Magu was done by Sambo Mayana in a commando style. Apparently, a swap was made into the residence of Abusidiqu, in Kubwa, Abuja on spurious allegations of “cyber stalking”.

Staff who had complained about the bullying EFCC Chair, revealed how Mr Magu has become “power drunk” in the discharge of duty for the fight against Economic and Financial Crimes.

They say that it is unfortunate that such a person has been allowed to lead such a crucial agency. Many who spoke to Adenike Lucas on the condition of anonymity say this gaffe is their chance to get rid of the ‘master of impunity’ who they called Mr Magu.

Evidence of Mr Magu’s failing includes the death in EFCC custody of a staff in the Ministry of Defence, Mr Desmond Nunogwu, which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has under the instructions of the Federal Government ordered a thorough independent investigation to his death. Mr Nunogwu’s family believe that Mr Magu prevented an autopsy for their relative because the outcome could affect his confirmation negatively.

The news of Mr Nunogwu’s death was never reported by Sahara Reporters who many believe is working for the acting EFCC boss.

Relative of the deceased Mr Desmond – Pictured above

Sahara Reporters, an online news website only published a brief on that of the arrested blogger. I, Adenike did an extensive coverage which can be found –

After the arrest of Abusidiqu, Mr Magu was believed to have jetted out of Nigeria to the United States. All effort to reach him on the act carried out against the blogger by his henchmen was met with the usual denial. The anti-graft Acting Chair tried to absolve himself from the calamitous incidence by denying he authorised the action.

This is the same thing he did after authorising EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari to award Mr Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, with “Anti-corruption Ambassador Award”. However, the public uproar caused by his decision made him to pull back, leaving the Core Staff, Mr Bakari to take the fall.

Now that it has become so obvious that a lot of allegations on Mr Magu’s impunity is at the public corridor, he and Sahara Reporters decided to wage a dirty media war against those seen working to expose him.

SR and Mr Magu are doing so by tarnishing the good reputation of Mr Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari; Director General Department of State Services, Mr Lawal Musa Daura; Mr Mamman Daura, Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau PhD (rtd); Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai and other close associates of President Buhari who he feels would prevent his confirmation at the Senate next month.

In their write up, Sahara Reporters propagates false accusation against those who have accused their alleged financier, Mr Ibrahim Magu and his predecessor Mr Ibrahim Lamorde and the third among the musketeers.

They hope their propaganda would divert attention from several allegation of corruption made against them.

An investigative report by the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems shows that since its inception, the EFCC has recovered N2.50 trillion Naira, but only 6.7 billion was remitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The public submission which can be found online implied that under certain former Chairs, the EFCC has not remitted the sum of One Trillion 993 billion Naira. So, where is this money?

Dr George Uboh, a lawyer turned security expert said that the money was diverted or stolen in ways he explained in a YouTube video posted on August 9, 2016.

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBtE9rSrhSk&a=&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the tenure of Mrs. Farida Waziri, saw the anomalies and discrepancies on Asset Recovery. This led her to conduct a thorough investigation, and a department for “Assets Forfeiture Unit” was created in 2008 for the first time in the history of the EFCC.

Other corrupt occurrence that has become a plague in the EFCC under Mr Magu’s tenure, is the link between himself and Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd), who was arrested by the DSS sometime in June 2016.

Mr Magu was reported as one of those whom the retired Air pilot was fronting for. News that Air Chief, still in DSS custody, might be blabbing secrets has made Magu of EFCC to be panicky.

A source close to the investigation say revelations by the former pilot may have indicted Mr Magu based on the blackmailing EFCC documents found at his Maitama home, Abuja.

Now the question is, while Mr Magu of EFCC was away in the United States, Sahara Reporters published another article against the duo of Abba Kyari and DG DSS Lawal Daura. Could this have been a coincidence, owing to the earlier revelations that the New York Online Media gets most of its blackmailing information from some policemen seconded at the EFCC, without exception to Magu of EFCC.

I want to ask Mr Ibrahim Magu some questions; 1) Did he recently travel to the United State of America? 2) Which part of the USA did his visit cover? 3) Who among the Sahara Reporters officials did he met or communicate with? Lastly, 4) Did he exchange any information about Senior Officials from the Presidency?

I have reported in the past, how a Nigerian online based news Editor approached this blog, with a tip about a request made by Sahara Reporters for them to assist in publishing some damaging stories against top associates and officials in PMB’s government.

However, the way and manner in which the desperation of the acting chair of EFCC, Mr Magu is heading, there is a need for President Buhari to have a rethink on the suitability of this fellow heading such a prestigious anti-graft agency.

Efforts in the past have shown that Mr Magu is doing everything possible to get confirmed by the NASS, upon their return from the long recess in September 2016.

But many of his plans seem to have failed. He is now looking at a plan ‘B’, where if he is not confirmed at the end of the day, he would have created doubt in the anti-graft war of President Buhari armed with the false publications written by Sahara Reporters claiming that some top officials in presidency are working against Mr Magu’s confirmation.

I ask again, when has Sahara Reporters become the mouth-piece of Mr Magu of EFCC?

It is high time for PMB to look beyond all these ‘arrest and recovery’ gimmicks of Mr Magu, and get a more reliable Law Enforcement Agent, who will not continue to embarrass the President and who would not destroy the hope of the APC led administration to positively CHANGE Nigeria.

In trying to get sympathy, Mr Magu of EFCC may claim that this article is “corruption that is fighting back.” Nigerians are used to such language. The evidence of his misdeeds are here in this article.

#IsMaguFit to be Substantive EFCC Chair? The answer is No! Nigerians who should not be hoodwinked by Mr Magu again can now see that he is not fit to be the substantive Chair of the EFCC?

Mr Magu, I am sure you know that “lie has strength, but truth has endurance.” The final victory belongs to the Almighty, as Nigerians awaits the Supreme Judgement for all your impunity.