By Ken Afor
Chief Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has voiced his dismay over widespread corruption that continues to afflict Nigeria.
In a recent interview, Clark highlighted a particular case involving Mr. Abubakar Malami, the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.
According to Clark, approximately three years ago, Malami filed 23 charges against Magu, who had been leading the anti-corruption agency at the time.
The move by the former Attorney General has drawn criticism, with Clark expressing frustration over the apparent lack of progress in addressing corruption within the nation’s highest echelons of power.
The New Diplomat recalls that on July 6, 2020, Magu was arrested on corruption charges related to funds he purportedly misappropriated, which supported his extravagant lifestyle and travel expenditures.
Prior to his arrest, he was slammed with 23 allegations of corruption in June 2020, and on July 7, 2020, he was suspended from his position as acting chairman of the EFCC.
Subsequently, the Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, set up a panel of inquiry, led by Justice Ayo Salami, a former president of the Court of Appeal, to investigate the EFCC activities from May 2015 to May 2020, during Magu’s tenure at the helm of the agency.
Magu was accused of suppressing high-profile cases, including those of four former governors and one senator, who was serving at the time.
According to reports, under Magu’s leadership, the EFCC was accused of failing to remit a recovered loot totaling N48 billion in foreign and local currencies.
The former acting EFCC chairman was equally accused of mishandling recovered assets and selling seized properties to his associates.
Moreover, a review of the report from the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) revealed discrepancies in the EFCC reported figures concerning the total number of recovered real estate.
Part of PCARA’s report stated that: “The EFCC, under the watch of the suspended Ag. Chairman, in its submission to PCARA, reported N46,038,882,509.87 as being the foreign currency equivalent recovered by the commission between May 29, 2015, and November 22, 2018.
“The EFCC, however, only produced evidence of lodgements of thirty-seven billion, five hundred and thirty-three million, seven hundred and sixty-four thousand, one hundred and ninety-five naira, sixty-six kobo, leaving a shortfall of eight billion, five hundred and five million, one hundred and eighteen thousand, three hundred and fourteen naira, twenty-one kobo.”
Meanwhile, Clark, the leader of the oil-rich Niger Delta region, noted that despite Magu’s close association with the former president (Buhari) and numerous attempts to secure his confirmation by the Senate, he was repeatedly rejected by the upper legislative chamber due to allegations of corruption.
He pointed out that Magu was eventually appointed as EFCC chairman without being cleared by the Senate, which goes against constitutional provisions.
Clark said: ”Sometimes, I feel very sad about the corruption situation in Nigeria. Let me point out to you a case of corruption.
About three years ago (former) AGF Malami leveled 23 charges against Magu, the acting Chairman of EFCC.
“Magu was a beloved officer of Muhammadu Buhari. About five times, he presented him to the Senate, and five times he was rejected.
“And they (the Presidency) decided that the (1999) Constitution (of Nigeria (as amende)) did not say anybody, who should be appointed as EFCC chairman, should go through the Senate.
“But still, they were disobeying the same Constitution and arresting any people they wanted to arrest. Magu did not go to the Senate (again for screening and approval) and he was in office for five years.”
