Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the suspended
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), failed to
submit the audited accounts of the anti-graft agency to the National Assembly
as required by law.
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), failed to
submit the audited accounts of the anti-graft agency to the National Assembly
as required by law.
Our correspondent learnt at the
weekend as critics say he took advantage of the non-confirmation of his
appointment by the Senate to avoid accountability leading to his current woes.
weekend as critics say he took advantage of the non-confirmation of his
appointment by the Senate to avoid accountability leading to his current woes.
Under Section 37 of the Establishment
Act, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, ETC) Act 2004,
the commission is required to submit its report annually to the National
Assembly including its audited account.
Act, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, ETC) Act 2004,
the commission is required to submit its report annually to the National
Assembly including its audited account.
The Act states: “The Commission shall,
not later than 30th September in each year, submit to the National Assembly, a
report of its activities during the immediately preceding year and shall
include in such report the audited accounts of the Commission.”
not later than 30th September in each year, submit to the National Assembly, a
report of its activities during the immediately preceding year and shall
include in such report the audited accounts of the Commission.”
Notwithstanding the Eight Senate’s
unwillingness to approve its nomination, the Agency was still required by law
to file its annual reports in accordance with the Establishment Act, first in
December 2016 and later in March 2017, as done by Magu’s predecessors, Mallam
Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamorde.
unwillingness to approve its nomination, the Agency was still required by law
to file its annual reports in accordance with the Establishment Act, first in
December 2016 and later in March 2017, as done by Magu’s predecessors, Mallam
Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamorde.
Critics say the Presidency’s
insistence on keeping Magu in office in an acting capacity may have stalled the
commission’s accountability and oversight despite non-confirmation, even as the
National Assembly approves the agency’s budget annually.
insistence on keeping Magu in office in an acting capacity may have stalled the
commission’s accountability and oversight despite non-confirmation, even as the
National Assembly approves the agency’s budget annually.
This faceoff with the Senate enabled
Magu to operate the way he did without any scrutiny, a development that negated
the practice of the commission under his predecessors, Ribadu, Ibrahim and
Lamorde, who complied with the provision of the law by submitting their annual
reports and audited accounts to the National Assembly.
Magu to operate the way he did without any scrutiny, a development that negated
the practice of the commission under his predecessors, Ribadu, Ibrahim and
Lamorde, who complied with the provision of the law by submitting their annual
reports and audited accounts to the National Assembly.
Analysts said that the kind of
financial fraud, Magu is being accused of could only occur in an unsupervised organization,
adding that had the EFCC put itself through the process of an independent
audit, a number of the issues Magu is now being accused of might have been
resolved.
financial fraud, Magu is being accused of could only occur in an unsupervised organization,
adding that had the EFCC put itself through the process of an independent
audit, a number of the issues Magu is now being accused of might have been
resolved.
With the Senate resolving not to have
any dealing with Magu, the commission became unable to present its annual
report to the National Assembly.
any dealing with Magu, the commission became unable to present its annual
report to the National Assembly.
Analysts said had the reports been
filed all of the issues that are being raised now would probably have been
detected by the National Assembly.
filed all of the issues that are being raised now would probably have been
detected by the National Assembly.
In this sort of situation, one analyst
said, “Magu may seem to have acted without oversight by either the
National Assembly or the Federation Attorney General and the Minister of
Justice, as indicated by the petition of the minister accusing him of
insubordination.”
said, “Magu may seem to have acted without oversight by either the
National Assembly or the Federation Attorney General and the Minister of
Justice, as indicated by the petition of the minister accusing him of
insubordination.”
This lack of legislative oversight
would have been avoided, according to another writer, had the presidency not
insisted on making Magu as the chief of the anti-corruption agency.
would have been avoided, according to another writer, had the presidency not
insisted on making Magu as the chief of the anti-corruption agency.
Magu was said to have worked with a
few investigators and operatives called ‘Magu Boys” to the detriment and envy
of others, triggering a backlash in the form of leakages of official documents
and files.
few investigators and operatives called ‘Magu Boys” to the detriment and envy
of others, triggering a backlash in the form of leakages of official documents
and files.
A source disclosed that at a time,
workers were owed five months arrears of salaries and allowances and they
threatened to take the matter to a popular radio talk show, “Berekete Family,”
aired by Human Rights Radio, to express their grievances and call on the
management to clear the arrears of salaries and allowances.
workers were owed five months arrears of salaries and allowances and they
threatened to take the matter to a popular radio talk show, “Berekete Family,”
aired by Human Rights Radio, to express their grievances and call on the
management to clear the arrears of salaries and allowances.
It was learnt that the threat led the
EFCC management to intervene after giving several excuses that the agency’s
money was held up “somewhere.
EFCC management to intervene after giving several excuses that the agency’s
money was held up “somewhere.
The coalition said the international
community is not opposed to Magu being investigated since all allegations of
corruption must be thoroughly probed but rather that due process and the proper
disciplinary procedures have not been followed.
community is not opposed to Magu being investigated since all allegations of
corruption must be thoroughly probed but rather that due process and the proper
disciplinary procedures have not been followed.
Magu was charged last Monday with
investigating charges of corruption and insubordination brought against him by
his supervising minister, Mr Abubakar Malami, before a presidential panel of
enquiry headed by Justice Ayo Salami.
investigating charges of corruption and insubordination brought against him by
his supervising minister, Mr Abubakar Malami, before a presidential panel of
enquiry headed by Justice Ayo Salami.
