Reliable sources told Sunday PUNCH on Saturday that Magu had made spirited efforts to see President Buhari in the aftermath of the Senate’s refusal to confirm his appointment. The Senate, on Thursday, had based its decision on a security report by the Department of State Service which accused Magu of abuse of office and corruption.
The report by the DSS says Magu’s antecedents and his conduct after his appointment as the anti-corruption czar, made him ineligible to hold the office in full capacity.
The DSS report concludes, “Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the embattled EFCC chairman, who is said to be at loggerheads with some members of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, tried to see the President on Saturday night but his efforts were futile.
Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, handles the President’s appointments and determines, in most cases, who gets to see him.
There have been reports that Magu is involved in a power struggle with the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, and some top aides of the President, who are said to be against his confirmation. The acting EFCC chairman is said to be an ally of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno.
Magu was conspicuously absent at the wedding of the President’s daughter, Zahra, to Ahmed Indimi. However, other heads of security agencies including the former chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, were present at the lunch which held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
Multiple sources in the presidency confirmed that Magu was sighted in the Presidential Villa around 6.30pm on Friday.
While he failed to see the President, Magu attended the Asset Recovery team meeting which holds weekly at the Presidency. The meeting had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ; the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, and others, in attendance.
Magu has written a letter stating his side of the story over the allegations levelled against him by the DSS. A source, who said the letter would be delivered to the President during the week, added that Magu defended himself and also detailed his running battles with some of the president’s closest aides.
Magu, it was gathered, had wanted to issue a statement through the agency to respond to the DSS allegations, but later had a change of mind.
Meanwhile, this newspaper gathered that the confirmation crisis had polarised the President’s cabinet.
A source in government told one of our correspondents that some ministers who are in support of Magu visited the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Senate session on Thursday. The source said the ministers tried to prevail on Saraki to ensure that Magu was confirmed. Saraki was said to have told them that he did not have the sole power to confirm the EFCC’s acting chairman.
Some ministers who are however staunchly against Magu reportedly reached out to the senate president and urged him not to make the mistake of ensuring Magu’s confirmation or it could come back to haunt him.
The report by the DSS says Magu’s antecedents and his conduct after his appointment as the anti-corruption czar, made him ineligible to hold the office in full capacity.
The DSS report concludes, “Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the embattled EFCC chairman, who is said to be at loggerheads with some members of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, tried to see the President on Saturday night but his efforts were futile.
Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, handles the President’s appointments and determines, in most cases, who gets to see him.
There have been reports that Magu is involved in a power struggle with the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, and some top aides of the President, who are said to be against his confirmation. The acting EFCC chairman is said to be an ally of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno.
Magu was conspicuously absent at the wedding of the President’s daughter, Zahra, to Ahmed Indimi. However, other heads of security agencies including the former chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, were present at the lunch which held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
Multiple sources in the presidency confirmed that Magu was sighted in the Presidential Villa around 6.30pm on Friday.
While he failed to see the President, Magu attended the Asset Recovery team meeting which holds weekly at the Presidency. The meeting had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ; the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, and others, in attendance.
Magu has written a letter stating his side of the story over the allegations levelled against him by the DSS. A source, who said the letter would be delivered to the President during the week, added that Magu defended himself and also detailed his running battles with some of the president’s closest aides.
Magu, it was gathered, had wanted to issue a statement through the agency to respond to the DSS allegations, but later had a change of mind.
Meanwhile, this newspaper gathered that the confirmation crisis had polarised the President’s cabinet.
A source in government told one of our correspondents that some ministers who are in support of Magu visited the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Senate session on Thursday. The source said the ministers tried to prevail on Saraki to ensure that Magu was confirmed. Saraki was said to have told them that he did not have the sole power to confirm the EFCC’s acting chairman.
Some ministers who are however staunchly against Magu reportedly reached out to the senate president and urged him not to make the mistake of ensuring Magu’s confirmation or it could come back to haunt him.
from punch
Oga oooo...but the president should try and listen to this guy nah. I can imagine how he would be feeling now
ReplyDeleteIt's cases likes this that make me wish for a robot as the litmus test for any top govt position in Nigeria. You pass thru this robot built door, if you are corrupt or have the intentions of corruption, once you pass thru that door, it's either it cuts you into half or you walk free! That way, most leaders will think twice before going for any appointment!
DeleteBiko Na Una know, not interested.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, there's fire on the mountain...
ReplyDelete... Jesus is my worth!
Hian
ReplyDeleteHhhmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious they don't want this man. Clear case of corruption fighting back.
ReplyDeleteI love this. Goes to show separation of power is effective. This is highly commendable that the senate did a thorough job unlike approving anyhow.
DeleteYes they don't want him cos he will look for fresh case against ibori .
DeleteHmmm..this is so confusing.
ReplyDeleteBiko I find it difficult to comment these days o,dont know the problem.
The problem is your bad attitude.
DeleteMaybe there's a problem with your phone/computer browser.
DeleteThis is a sad day for Nigeria when corruptors are hell bent on blocking this man from the chairman. Wow he must have been doing a great job. Useless politicians!!!
ReplyDeleteThose who live in glass houses don't throw stones!😅😁
DeleteI suspect his appointment will mean he will step on toes and open some people's arses. The way he is being resisted is very suspicious. Dem never tell us true true wetin dis man do.
Deletewhat sad day for nigeria? is there a report against him or not?
DeleteAll of them, both the hunters and the hunted are confirmed crooks.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteIf really Magu has a clean hand He should just relax His mind God will vindicate Him, Buhari is watching every one too but I know the Senate/Rep we have are more prone to corruption than any arm of Government in Nigeria
ReplyDeleteSorry magu will not smell that post . He is against them all aside d president . So it's a no no for them. Senate even has d power to comot that Buhari self . So Buhari cannot do anything about it. That was why they were afraid of saraki being d senate president because they can't manipulate him.
DeleteHe deserves to be heard.dis is democracy for Christ sake not dat I'm saying he is innocent ooh..
ReplyDeleteHmmmm that's d democracy now. Many voted against him in the house so what are we saying? If they vote against Buhari tomorrow , he will resign with immediate effect. If Nigerians starts saying they want to divide the power lies in that senate not even Buhari so you see just a vote can change everything
DeleteAfter using him to torment different people they finally dumped him not fair
ReplyDeleteYeye dey worry dem all.
ReplyDeleteThis is a case of equity and clean hands. Magu fell for the trappings of power. What a shame
ReplyDeleteHis problem is chop alone, die alone. Someone that is fighting iniquity must come with a clean hand. He's so corrupt and greedy. Na the same evil sets of people.
ReplyDelete