By Kolawole Ojebisi
The State Security Service (SSS, also called DSS) has denied arresting the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency, EFCC.
It was initially reported that he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) but the secret police issued a statement to deny any involvement.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that it did not arrest Ibrahim MAGU, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as has been reported by sections of the media. The Service, has since, today, 6th July, 2020, been inundated with enquiries over the alleged arrest,” said Peter Afunanya, the SSS spokesperson.
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Though it was gathered that the EFCC acting chairman is being grilled by a presidential panel probing the agency, the identities of the security agents who whisked him away from his office is still shrouded in controversy.
The panel grilling Magu is currently sitting at the presidential villa in Abuja.
The reported arrest of Magu comes a few days after Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), accused the anti-graft czar of gross infractions.
The AGF asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu over some “weighty” allegations, including the diversion of recovered loot.
In addition to allegedly re-looting the recovered loot, Malami accused the acting EFCC chairman of insubordination and misconduct.
It was learnt that the EFCC chief travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates without the authorisation of the president during the COVID-19 lockdown.
And when he was questioned, he said he went for an investigation.
In 2016, the senate declined to confirm the appointment of Magu as EFCC chairman after a DSS report indicted him of corruption.
The report read: “Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.
“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.”
