Ibrahim Magu, a top level official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , hitherto the head of the Governance Unit of the anti-graft body, has been elevated to the position of Chairman of the commission. Small in stature, Magu is rated by colleagues as highly disciplined, committed and uncompromising. He has been involved in high profile investigations including the Halliburton scandal involving top Nigerian politicians including a former Vice President and the James Ibori scandal which later led to the former Delta State Governor’s conviction in the United Kingdom.
The elevation of Magu follows the removal Monday by the Buhari government of Ibrahim Lamorde, who had held that position since 2011. Lamorde had been under fire in recent months with accusations that he looted some of the loots recovered from politicians. He has been summoned by the Legislators to clear the air. Lamorde’s removal was inevitable in spite his sudden knee jerk approach to prosecute top government officials, a burst of commitment perceived as eye service to please Buhari and keep his job.
Under Lamorde and his predecessor, Farida Waziri, corruption thrived and the fear-factor of the EFCC among government officials dissolved into the air. A top cop told our reporter that Magu would toe a different approach. “He is a different kind of cop and I pity crooks this time. They will see in Magu a man that cannot be compromised. We are all happy for him because it shows that this government knows who is who and who is doing what. His appointment and promotion gives some of us hope”, he said.
Magu is remembered as a no-nonsense investigator of the commission at its inception. He was removed along with several other key officials by Farida Waziri when she became chairman in 2008. His removal was seen as a consequence of his hard line against corruption.
Recently, Magu was appointed by the government of Buhari to investigate the purchase of arms by the armed forces under the previous administration. The 14-man panel was charged with probing how some of the retired military chiefs spent the votes for arms while they were in office. The panel, inaugurated by Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, was asked to investigate, among others, $466.5m contract to weaponise six Puma helicopters by Jonathan administration; N3billion contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS) and theft of over €200m by PICOMMS, including the purchase of two private jets.
It was also to investigate the $9.3m cash-for-arms deal seized by South Africa; the whereabouts of $1billion loan approved by the 7th Senate for arms purchase to fight Boko Haram; what became of unaccessed N7b budget for the military and the contract for the rehabilitation of the Military Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
