Suspended EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu’s reported appearance before the CCB and asset declaration has further led to general speculations by many that there’s more to what led to his initial withdrawal from office.
According to media outlet PREMIUM TIMES, the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly appeared before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Abuja.
They confirmed also in line with other news sources that they received information and messages from a reliable source close to Mr Magu that he appeared before the CCB on Monday. The source, who kindly requested for confidentiality, also revealed that Mr Magu initially appeared last Thursday but could not be attended to. He added that Mr Magu later visited the following day on Friday, where he spent a couple of hours for the interview on his asset declaration.
However, when PREMIUM TIMES did a follow up by contacting the legal counsel to Mr Ibrahim Magu whose name was given as Wahab Shittu, he clearly denied knowledge of the whole episode and said he could not confirm the visit of his client (Magu) to the CCB.
He however, confirmed that Mr Magu had made enquiries from the CCB on Thursday as reported but that he’s not aware he went to the bureau’s office the following day being Friday. According to his words
“On Wednesday he (Magu) informed me that he was going to honour the CCB on Thursday but made enquires to the CCB and was informed that they had a workshop which was the reason why he did not go,
“But I cannot say if he later went there (CCB) on the following day, because as we speak I am in Lagos. I left Abuja on Friday,” he said.
In the same vein, the spokesperson and representative of the CCB, Adetola Olusegun, disclosed his ignorance of Mr Magu’s appearance and said he could not speak on it as well.
The CCB had initially ordered the ex chairman appearance before a panel on November 17, at its headquarters in Abuja, on an alleged breach of conduct in public office.
The anti-graft agency’s invite was contained via a letter dated November 2 signed by the CCB director for intelligence, investigation and monitoring. In the invitation letter the
commission requested Mr Magu to come along with acknowledgement slips of all asset declaration forms since joining the public service.
Mr Magu did not honour the initial date of the invitation as requested by the CCB, and as observed by news reports,
Mr Magu could not be reached for comment on his reaction to the summon.
Moreover Mr Shittu also did not disclose to PREMIUM TIMES why the former EFCC boss refused to honour the invitation of the CCB. When quizzed further on the issue the lawyer tried to explain to reporters that Mr Magu did not shun the CCB invitation, but only sought for a new date over a lack of access to relevant documents.
Mr Magu was investigated by a presidential panel over allegations of graft and insubordination levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The Justice Ayo Salami-led panel has submitted its findings to President Muhammadu Buhari but the details are yet to be made public.
Well meaning Nigerians and some political leaders who are genuinely interested in the fight against corruption are eagerly following the details of these investigations and are eagerly waiting in anticipation to see the actions of the federal government based on the findings and reports of the investigative panel.
Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Staff Writer
