AS the plot thickens to stop the Acting Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, from becoming the
substantive chair of the Commission, three names have popped up as his
possible replacements. They are a former boss of the anti-graft agency,
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs
Service, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) and a retired Assistant Inspector-General
of Police, Amodu Ali, who is famous for investigating the $180million
Halliburton bribery scandal.
Investigation by our correspondent
revealed that the decision to prop up their names was part of the grand
plot by the powerful forces opposed to Magu to stop his re-nomination by
President Muhammadu Buhari. More names might also be propped up in the
next few days. But the Transparency International- Nigeria and some
civil society groups yesterday protested non-confirmation of Magu by the
Senate.
The TI and others described the security report upon
which the Senate based its decision as “curious.” A top source said:
“These forces do not want Magu re-nominated by the President when the
Senate returns from Christmas break. “This is why they have recommended
some people (at least three for now) who have impeccable integrity like
Magu as the next substantive chairman of EFCC.
“These are the
Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali
(rtd), a former Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and a retired
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Amodu Ali who investigated the
$180million Halliburton bribery scandal. “But President Buhari is just
listening to arguments for and against Magu. The ball is in the court of
the President.” There were however fears last night that these forces
might go to court if Buhari re-nominates Magu.
They are trying to
hang on to the report of the Department of State Security Service (DSS)
to seek some ambiguous reliefs in court.” It was also learnt that pro-
Magu sympathisers are also pressing buttons to have the ears of the
President to stick to the Acting EFCC chairman. Another source added:
“Representations have been made in the last 24 hours to those close to
the President to insist on Magu. “Those sympathetic to Magu actually
approached an influential governor to intercede and let the President
get a second opinion on the DSS report.
“This situation is dicey
as I talk to you because both sides are embroiled in intense politics of
survival. “Those against Magu were busy yesterday celebrating that they
have boxed the Acting EFCC chairman to a corner.” Apart from
Transparency International, other civil society groups who protested
against non-confirmation of Magu by the Senate yesterday include Civil
Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Zero-corruption
Coalition (ZCC) They made their position known in a statement by the
Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani).
The
statement said: “The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC), Transparency International-Nigeria (TI) and Zero-corruption
Coalition (ZCC) express concern at the circumstances surrounding the
nonconfirmation by the Nigerian Senate of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman
of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), upon his appointment
by the President.
“We find it worrisome that the confirmation of
the head of such a strategic anti-corruption agency is taking such a
long time, having been first appointed in November 2015, and worse still
at a time when the nation is reinvigorating the fight against
corruption. “CISLAC, TI- Nigeria and ZCC wonder if there is more to the
unfolding events than meets the eye. “We are further alarmed at the
circumstances preceding the last session in which the Upper Chamber
failed to confirm the appointee.
“The fact that the session was
preceded by a rowdy sitting and the Senators resorted to a closeddoor
session further highlights the lack of transparency in the confirmation
process. “We find the Senate’s reliance on a security report from the
Department of State Services (DSS) as a reason for the rejection of the
President’s appointee very curious.
“While we acknowledge that
the Senators have the power of confirmation as well as the right of
recourse to relevant institutions for vetting, this must be applied
strictly for public good and in very transparent and accountable manner.
“CISLAC, TI and ZCC therefore call on the Senate to make public the
security report it depended upon to reject the confirmation. “Merely
reading it out in a closed session and applying it to arrive at such far
reaching decisions fall short of the expectations of the electorate
that they represent in the exercise of their powers.
“We call on
the DSS to publicly confirm that they are the source of the report in
question and authenticate the content for the Nigerian Public to know.
“Considering that the DSS is also an agency in the executive arm, it
should indicate if the report was also shared with the President who
appoints the EFCC chairman. This is to ensure that it is discharging its
functions as expected by law and procedure.
“We call on the
Presidency to publicly state its position on the unfolding issues so
that Nigerians can have a clear picture and draw their own conclusions
as public support is crucial to a successful fight against corruption.
“The position of the EFCC chair is a very sensitive one and its occupant
must be held to the highest levels of integrity and credibility.
“A
situation where individuals and groups hide under clandestine and
unverified documents and reports to take decisions that could undermine
the integrity of individuals and institutions at the forefront of the
anti-corruption efforts will be a disservice to the nation and must not
be allowed to stand.
“We notify the Senate that their inability
to come clean on these would only fuel the perception that their failure
to confirm the appointment of the EFCC chairman who has acted for one
year is linked to their personal and selfish desire to protect
themselves and scuttle the fight against corruption of which several of
their members have been beneficiaries. “We urge all well-meaning
Nigerians and the media to kick against all manners of unjust decision
or resolution by the Nigerian Senate to sabotage the on-going
anti-corruption fight in the country
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