… Panel Allegedly Links Obscure Lagos Pastor With N573m In Account To Suspended EFCC Boss
By Kolawole Ojebisi
There are indications that Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Investigative Panel handling the allegations against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is probing him on his alleged link to a Kaduna-based Bureau de Change found to have made transactions of N336 billion, $435 million and €14 million.
It was learnt that the suspicion of Magu’s alleged link was raised before the panel by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) which discovered the transactions.
The panel allegedly grilled Magu for the fifth day on Friday before closing for the day at about 7pm.
According to Tribune Online, Magu will now explain before the panel what he knows about the Bureau de Change and the huge amount of money in its possession.
His possible link to a Lagos-based lawyer who was also said to have collected the sum of N28 million from the Kaduna-based Bureau de Change, is also being analyzed by the panel.
Beside that, the panel is also interested in finding out whether there is any relationship between Magu and a relatively unknown Lagos-based pastor found with N573 million in his account.
The pastor is believed to be a close associate of the suspended EFCC boss.
A source with knowledge of the investigation said on Friday night: “From the issues before the committee, there are two big issues concerning Bureau de Change being allegedly linked to Magu in Kaduna; that Bureau De Change has been discovered by the NFIU to have transacted business in the region of N336 billion, $435 million and about 14 million Euros.
“There is one other allegation against Magu that there is a little-known pastor in Lagos associated with him that was discovered to have N573 million in his account.
“And again, there is also a famous lawyer in Lagos, he has taken N28 million from the Bureau de Change.”
After a bit of delay, President Muhammadu Buhari finally approved Magu’s suspension from office on Friday.
The New Diplomat had reported how some yet to be identified people allegedly burgled the NFIU office and destroyed some vital documents that could be helpful in the ongoing probe of Magu.
A development believed to have allegedly prompted President Muhammadu to approve Magu’s suspension.
The New Diplomat had reported that Magu’s time in detention may be extended.
This is as the federal government is reportedly seeking a remand order against Magu to allow the Justice Salami-led Presidential Investigative Panel vet the dossier on him in the face of mounting allegations against the embattled suspended boss of EFCC.
