MAGU BOMBS OSINBAJO ‘SAYS HE ORDERED ME TO RELEASE N2BN TO HIM.’ IT’S A LIE. OSINBAJO SPOKESPERSON
A new twist may have been introduced into the corruption saga currently rattling the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, as he reporedly told Justice Ayo Salami –led seven-man Presidential panel investigating his activities at the anti-graft agency ,alleging that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo once ordered him to release the sum of N2billion to his office for undisclosed expenses though Laolu Akande,spokesperson to the Vice President has described the allegation as nothing but lies.
First News ,in a report says it learnt from credible security sources that following revelations by the embattled Magu, the panel may turn its searchlight on VP Osinbajo over the agency’s fund the suspended acting EFCC boss claimed to have given to the nation’s number two man.
‘Credible security sources told First News that the ‘closeness’ between Magu and Osinbajo has been the reason the VP had been protecting the EFCC boss, until lately, from the ‘hawks’ in the President Buhari-led administration baying for his blood.’
The source according to First News, recalled Osinbajo’s sacking of the former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura in 2018, following the siege laid on the National Assembly by the agency’s operatives.
‘He disclosed that the real reason behind Osinbajo’s decision to sack the then DSS boss, was the need to shield Magu from Daura, who did not hide his dislike for the EFCC boss.
He said Magu’s rejection of request by Daura that he shared information on high profile cases with him led to a cold war between the two security chiefs.’
The source according to First News said Magu’s had told the former DSS boss to his face that he only reports directly to the President, sparking off a rift with Daura, who was said to have vowed to take his own pound of flesh at the opportune time.
‘Magu was then said to have then run to Osinbajo, who now allegedly exploited the DSS invasion of the National Assembly under Daura’s watch, to get rid of the then DSS boss.’
Osinbajo according to First News was also alleged to have thrown his weight behind Magu during his consistent spat with the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Eighth Senate, which eventually declined to confirm him as the substantive boss of the EFCC till the life of that legislature expired.
But the suspended EFCC boss, First News learnt, is already appealing to the Presidential panel for plea bargain.
‘Magu, who it was, however, learnt would be answering questions before the panel for seven days, will be grilled today concerning the houses and vehicles, including 167 trucks he allegedly sold off and the sum of N37billion missing from the treasury of the EFCC.’
Also, a Presidential Assets Recovery Panel headed by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland revenue Service, Muhammad Mamman Nami, it was learnt, had turned in its report indicting Magu over the N37billion missing from the EFCC purse out of the looted funds recovered by the anti-graft agency, to the Justice Salami Presidential Panel currently quizzing the commission’s boss over his alleged sleaze in office.
‘First News gathered that the EFCC boss had told the panel that Osinbajo allegedly ordered him to release to him the sum of N2billion the same day President Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria for the United Kingdom in January this year, for an undisclosed reason.’
It will be recall that, Buhari had on January 17, 2020 travelled to the UK to participate in the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit, in London.
Magu, it was also learnt, had yet to properly account to the Panel how the EFCC under him sold off seized properties and vehicles, including about 167 trucks in PortHarcourt, Rivers State, in the past four months.
It was further learnt that between 12midnight on Monday and 4:00am on Tuesday, records and files of high profile cases being investigated by the anti-graft agency got missing from the Wuse II, Abuja headquarters of the EFCC.
Some EFCC operatives tagged “Magu Boys” have been fingered for the missing files and are now also said to be under the searchlight of the presidential panel already quizzing their boss, Magu.
Already, First News learnt, Magu has admitted before the Panel that he had been acting in violation of the Act that established the EFCC by ‘deliberately’ refusing to report to the supervising minister and ministry under which the agency operates.
He was said to have also admitted ignoring requests from other sister security agencies, including the Force Headquarters and the Inspector General of Police’s office, his primary constituency, to assist in investigating and recovering huge sums of looted funds totalling N98billion.
The panel, it was learnt, has accused him of unilaterally running the EFCC without recourse or even reporting to President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed him into the office.
First News gathered that at the end of the Panel’s assignment, Magu may be arraigned in court for corruption, and his case also referred to the Police Service Commission for the appropriate disciplinary action.
Policemen attached to the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department on Tuesday according to First News searched Magu’s private home.
Also on Tuesday, the Justice Ayo Salami Presidential Panel, which interrogated Magu on Monday over allegations of corruption, again quizzed the suspended EFCC boss.
The suspended EFCC boss, who was detained by the police after Monday’s interrogation, was returned to the police custody at 8:30pm on Tuesday.
‘But earlier at 6pm, policemen searched Magu’s house located on Abduljalil Street, Karu Site, on the outskirts of Abuja and made away with vital documents.
The policemen, who carried out the search, were said to be the same team that arrested the EFCC boss on Monday.’
A police officer, who pleaded not to be named, said, “On Tuesday evening, a team of policemen stormed the home of Magu in Karu. That is the house where Magu used to live before he moved to Maitama after his appointment as EFCC chairman.
“The policemen made away with some items and everything will be processed as investigations continue.”
Magu spends second night in police custody
First News learnt that at 830p.m. on Tuesday, Magu was again returned to the Force Criminal Investigation Bureau at Area 10, Garki Abuja, where he had passed the night on Monday.
“Yes. Magu has returned to police custody. He left the venue of the panel’s sitting at 8.30pm and was driven back to the same police facility where he was detained on Monday,” a police source said. First News added
