How DSS security report stopped Ibrahim Magu from being confirmed as EFCC chairman

The Department of State Services said the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, failed the integrity test, warning that he will hinder President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

The Senate had  on Thursday rejected the nomination of Magu by Buhari  as the Chairman of the EFCC.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly cited “security reports” as the reason for the rejection.

The PUNCH, however, sighted a copy of the “security report” by the DSS in which Magu’s activities were alleged to have made him ineligible to hold the office.

The letter, dated October 3, was addressed to the Clerk of the Senate, in reference to a letter by the Senate, dated September 21, 2016, asking for Magu’s security check.

The report, which listed several alleged malpractices against the EFCC boss, said his confirmation would frustrate the anti-graft drive of the Buhari-led administration.

Part of the allegations against Magu was his being in possession of EFCC documents in his private residence during the chairmanship of Farida Waziri.

The DSS also made reference to the circumstances surrounding Magu’s arrest, detention and suspension by the Nigeria Police.

The secret service also alleged that the sum of N40m was paid for the rented apartment, which costs N20m per annum, where the acting EFCC chairman currently resides.

It added that the accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s account but by a presidential appointee, who had been under investigation.

The DSS alleged that after renting the apartment for Magu, the friend awarded a N43m contract for the furnishing of the accommodation.

The appointee, who is a retired Air Commodore, was said to be a close associate and ally of Magu, allegedly and “runs questionable business” and was once arrested by the service.

The report, which cleared the other four EFCC appointees, said Magu, flew a private jet owned by the retired military officer.

The service also claimed that the EFCC boss was once in the same flight to Maiduguri with a Managing Director of one of the new generation banks, who it alleged was under investigation.

It added that the bank chief had been linked with a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The DSS stated that after the arrest of service chiefs by the EFCC, including Badeh, Umar and Amosu, Magu’s ally, while under interrogation by the service, had confessed that he didn’t want Amosu to be probed, the reason why the EFCC arraigned Amosu after his friend’s interrogation.

The acting EFCC boss was also accused in the report of making false allegations against individuals “for personal reasons.”

The report said, “The circumstances surrounding the return of Magu to the EFCC and the role played by Lamorde and their close relationship are clear indications of his culpability in the allegation of corruption tendencies of the Lamorde-led EFCC.”

The DSS also alleged that “Magu uses only his police cronies to execute operations,” adding that the fact that the cronies had acquired landed properties “led credence to the questions about his integrity.”

The report added, “In this light, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”

In rejecting Magu, the upper chamber of the National Assembly had cited “security reports” as the reason for the rejection.

The screening had been listed on the Order Paper as part of the activities at the chamber for the day.

The lawmakers were to conduct a confirmatory screening for Magu and four members of the EFCC on their nomination.

The plan to conduct the confirmatory screening had allegedly divided the senators.