EFCC chair Magu detained

FOR hours on Monday, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu testified before a panel looking into allegations levelled against him by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The panel is headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, a retired president of the Court of Appeal.

Magu was detained last night after being quizzed by the panel.

He was whisked away from the Presidential Villa, where he was interrogated to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at about 10.15pm shortly after the investigative panel ended its sitting.

His escort mobile policemen and security detail were stood down before he was taken into custody.

It was learnt that shortly after emerging from the sitting, Magu was led into a waiting  white Hilux van marked 371D.

Magu insisted on sitting in the open space at the back of the Hilux.

The police team persuaded him to sit in the first cabin.

The ding-doing over his relocation to the FCID lasted about 25 minutes.

Magu was later allowed to go to the FCID in his official car.

A source said: “In the light of the ongoing investigation, it became expedient to detain Magu at the FCID. We do not want him to return to the office while he is being questioned, because he is likely to have another session with the Justice Salami panel.”

It was also learnt last night that Magu might be suspended from office.

“By not allowing him to go back to his office was an indication that he might be suspended.

“It is obvious that the Presidency has concluded plans to look for a new candidate for the office,” the source said.

At the FCID around 10.50pm, Magu rejected an offer to take him into an office to stay the night.

He told the officers in charge to treat him like a suspect by putting him in a cell.

Sitting on a chair, he said: “I won’t go and sleep in any office, I prefer to be in a cell. Kindly put me in a cell. That is what Allah wants for me. I can’t question God.”

There was drama to Magu’s invitation earlier in the day. He was intercepted on the road along Fomella Street while moving out of the Wuse II office Annex of the EFCC in Abuja.

Invitation was then extended to him by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

The CSP’s vehicle had a backup comprising a three-man security team, who closely watched the encounter.

Magu was on his way to the Force Headquarters. He pleaded with the officer to allow him to honour the scheduled appointment.

But he was told the invitation by the panel was superior to his appointment.

At about 1.35pm, Magu arrived at the Villa.

The EFCC chairman, who went to the Villa with his full escort and security detail, was not arrested or molested.

While the session lasted, Magu had unfettered access to his mobile phones.

The panel was also polite as he was allowed to pray and given a free lunch.

A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The CSP was polite. He even allowed Magu to speak with an officer in the FCID to ensure that the invitation was genuine.

“Instead of going to the Force Headquarters, Magu called his lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and headed for the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.”

The travails of the EFCC chairman started on Sunday night when a source, suspected to be a former EFCC official, posted on Facebook that “next week, Monday-Friday are black days to (sic) Mr. EFCC.”

The facebook post confirmed intelligence at Magu’s disposal that he might be arrested or prosecuted.

Another source added: “With the post on Facebook, Magu already had a mindset that yesterday might be rough.

“And true to his prediction, he got the invitation to appear before the panel.”

Investigation by our correspondent revealed some of the allegations against Magu by Malami.

Some of the 22 allegations are as follows:

• Alleged discrepancies in the reconciliation records of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds
• Declaration of N539billion as recovered funds instead of N504b earlier claimed
• Insubordination to the office of the AGF by not seeking his approval on some decisions
• Not providing enough evidence for the extradition of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke
• Alleged late action on the investigation of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) leading to legal dispute
• Not respecting court order to unfreeze a N7billion judgment in favour of a former Executive Director of First Bank
• Alleged delay in acting on two vessels seized by Nigerian Navy leading to the loss of crude
• Alleged favouring of some investigators called Magu’s Boys
• Reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to the AGF
• Alleged sales of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends
• Alleged issuance of investigative activities to some media prejudicial to some cases.

A top source said: “Magu and his officers had spent the last two weeks looking at all the allegations and compiled appropriate responses to them with documents.

“It is the compendium of evidence that he took to the panel to prove his innocence. Whatever you may accuse Magu of, it is not corruption or self-enrichment.

“All those who have worked with Magu know him for his incorruptibility. He is also a hardliner who stepped on many toes. It is good that a panel is looking into the allegations.

“Take the case of sales of assets, Magu never sold any assets since he came into office. Instead, the seized properties were allocated for use by government agencies.

“The P&ID matter preceded Magu in office because the judgment debt was during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Magu only investigated the criminal aspect instead of supporting Settlement Agreement. And he gave the case all his strength to get the best for the nation.

At the appropriate time, the details of what Magu did in office and what really transpired before the panel will be known to Nigerians for posterity.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) denied arresting the EFCC boss.

The Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that it did not arrest Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as has been reported by sections of the media.

“The Service has since 6th July, 2020, been inundated with enquiries over the alleged arrest.”

The EFCC confirmed that Magu went to the Villa to honour an invitation.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale said: “Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr.  Ibrahim Magu on Monday honoured an invitation by a Presidential Panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC, at the Banquet Hall wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

”He was served the invitation to the Panel, while on his way to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for a meeting.

”The EFCC’s boss was neither arrested nor forced to honour the invitation.  A member of a legal team from the EFCC is also with him on the Panel.”

(The Nation)

Nigeria Records 575 New Coronavirus Cases

Nigeria record 575 new cases of the novel COVID-19 which took the total infection case to 29,286, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Monday.

According to the health agency, Lagos state recorded the highest number with 123 as it reduced from yesterday's 199 cases. FCT followed with 100 as Delta recorded 58 new cases.

Check out the breakdown of the number of new cases of COVID-19 recorded today as stated by NCDC on their official Twitter page.

575 new cases of COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-123 FCT-100 Delta-58 Edo-52 Ogun-42 Katsina-24 Bayelsa-23 Rivers-22 Borno-19 Plateau-18 Ondo-18 Oyo-17 Kwara-15 Osun-13 Enugu-9 Nasarawa-7 Abia-6 Cross River-5 Kaduna-3 Ekiti-1 29,286 confirmed 11,828 discharged 654 deaths.

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADARIN DAJI NEUTRALIZE BANDITS IN KATSINA AND ZAMFARA STATES, RECOVER ARMS AND AMMUNITION- AS REPENTANT BANDITS EMBRACE PEACE, SURRENDER WEAPONS

In continuation of the recently launched Operation ACCORD aimed at reinvigorated and aggressive kinetic operations to decisively curtail the activities of armed bandits in the North-West region, the Armed Forces of Nigeria troops have continued to conduct intensive clearance operations to identified bandits enclaves in the North- West, with attendant successes against the criminal elements.

On 3 July 2020, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI stormed a bandits' camp at Sanu village in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State sequel to actionable Human and technical intelligence on the heavy bandits’ presence in the vicinity.  Adopting aggressive tactical maneuvers, troops stormed the hideout and engaged the cowardly bandits who fled in disarray, scores with gunshot wounds. Troops pursued the bandits and made further contact with them, overwhelming them with heavy volume of fire. Exploitation of the general area led to the recovery of one AK47 rifle and one SMG rifle. It was also revealed that several bandits suffered heavy injuries and most likely died, as evident in the vast pools of blood along their withdrawal route. 

In a related development, troops made contact with bandits at Bawan Daji village and neutralized one bandit while many others were fatally wounded. Troops further raided bandits’ enclave at Gidan Zamfarawa about 10km from Mashanyin Zaki. The bandits fled on sighting troops from afar but were pursued by the determined troops who engaged them with aggressive firing. Troops exploited the general area and destroyed 7 major bandit camps while one AK47 rifle, and 2 Motorcycles, amongst others were equally recovered.

 Similarly, on 5 July 2020, troops stormed an identified bandits camp at Salihawa village in Batsari LGA of Katsina state following credible intelligence on their activities in the village. Troops overwhelmed the bandits with superior firepower and neutralized one of the criminals while several others escaped with fatal gunshot wounds. Troops also apprehended a suspected bandits’ logistics supplier, Mohammed Illela at Illela village on 4 July 2020 following a tip-off.  The suspect was arrested while attempting to convey 13 jerrycans and 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit concealed in an ash-coloured Volkswagen wagon car, to suspected bandits.

Still on 5 July 2020, troops conducted a Cordon and Search operation within Bawar-Daji village. During the operation, troops neutralized one bandit and recovered one AK 47 rifle, 5 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and one magazine, amongst others.

Furthermore, owing to intensified operations, projected by aggressive presence and posture of troops in the theatre, 3 notable bandits have surrendered to troops along with their weapons. The repentant bandits submitted one Light Machine Gun and 2 X AK 47 rifles.

Ojudu defies Buhari, insists Presidential Directive on withdrawal of political court cases not applicable to him

The Special Assistant to President Muhammed Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has said that he would pursue the case he had instituted against his state chapter of the All Progressives Congress to it's logical conclusion.

This was revealed in the Federal High Court, Abuja today when the matter of Ojudud & ors V APC, Ekiti State came up for hearing. 

Senator Ojudu's insistence is in defiance of the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari that APC party members who had instituted cases against individuals or party structures across the country withdraw same in the interest of enabling peace and reconsolidation within APC. In his speech at the recently concluded APC NEC meeting President Buhari had proposed that this directive be enforced  including providing for punitive measures against erring members.

The Presidential aide had taken the Ekiti chapter of the party to court, challenging the composition of the state exco of the party, up to the ward level, arguing that the structure was imposed in contravention with the constitution of the APC.

At the resumption of the hearing today, the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Ekwo  adjourned the matter until 30th July 2020 to enable all parties file necessary papers.

BREAKING: WAEC Examination To Commence On August 4 – Education Minister

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, on Monday said the West Africa Examination Council has fixed August 4, 2020 as commencement for this year’s examination.

Nwajiuba made this known at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Monday.

The minister said the examination will end on September 5.

Details later...

UPDATE: Journalists barred as panel grills Magu in Aso Rock

ACTING Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, is being grilled by a panel set up to investigate alleged infractions against him.

The panel is sitting at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa (Old Banquet Hall) Abuja.

Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had recently written to President Muhammadu Buhari on why the EFCC boss should be replaced having been rejected many times for confirmation by the National Assembly.

The former Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura had also written what was said to be damaging report against Magu to the senate.

However, journalists who went to cover the event at about 3.20 pm, were turned back by security personnel.

Even when the journalists who cover the State House decided to go to the press center at the Old Banquet Hall, they were politely told to excuse the place for a while.

“They said you people should excuse the use of this place for today,” a security official detailed to the venue, politely told reporters.

Magu was said to have been arrested by the DSS in Abuja on Monday, following allegations that he owns four properties and was allegedly transferring funds abroad through a third party.

He was said to have been stopped in traffic while moving out of the Wuse II Annex of the EFCC in Abuja and the invitation was extended to him.

(Vanguard)