Buhari suspends 12 EFCC directors as part of the ongoing investigation of Ibrahim Magu

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the suspension of 12 directors of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of the ongoing investigations into the affairs of its acting chairman Ibrahim Magu.

On Monday last week, Mr Magu was arrested by men of the Department of State Security in Abuja and has since been held for questioning by a presidential panel set up to investigate him. President Muhammadu Buhari has since suspended him from office and over the last weeks, all sorts of stories have been circulating about impropriety associated with Mr Magu.

For instance, it is alleged that Mr Magu travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates without the authorisation of the president, in defiance of the coronavirus lockdown. Mr Magus is also accused of living beyond his means and of having an close relationship with retired military officer Air Commodore Umar Mohammed, said to be of questionable character.

Among other things, Mr Magu is also accused of owning four properties and said to have been transferring funds abroad through a third party. It is also alleged that during one trip, Mr Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Air Commodore Mohammed with a bank managing director, who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

With Mr Magu still being detained, President Buhari has suspended three of his directors, including the EFCC secretary Olanipekun Olukoyede. Apparently, they were suspended at the request of the presidential panel.

Following the approval of the request by President Buhari, the directors were directed by the attorney-general of the federation,  Abubakar Malami to proceed on suspension as of yesterday, in compliance with the presidential order. It was feared that their continued presence with the agency could impeded the investigations.

One government source said: “The panel actually requested the suspension of all the directors of the EFCC to go to enable the panel members to carry out a thorough investigation into the activities of the commission. Following the request, the president asked the attorney-general to direct the directors and other senior officials to proceed on suspension immediately."