The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be prosecuted for the allegations of corruption levelled against him.
The PDP made the demand in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, on Wednesday.
Magu has since Monday been appearing before a presidential panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, a former president of the Court of Appeal, answering questions alleged infractions.
The investigation is occurring after Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation, was said to have levelled some “weighty” corruption allegations levelled against the EFCC czar, as well as that of insubordination and misconduct.
The PDP said having reviewed the reported circumstances around the case described the anti-corruption by the EFCC under Magu’s leadership as a “huge scam by corrupt individuals to cover the plundering of public resources, harass political opponents, intimidate and extort money from innocent Nigerians”.
According to the major opposition party, the purported indictment of the embattled Commissioner of Police has tainted the war against corruption led by the anti-graft agency and President Muhammadu Buhari, who is championing a continental-wide battle against the hydra-headed monster.
The statement read: “The party observed that the revelations of diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other sleazes, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of justice, as well as the report of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Magu’s activities, have further exposed the racket that the fight against corruption had become under the APC government.
“The development has also exposed why corruption has worsened under the Buhari administration, as documented by credible international organization, including Transparency International.
“It is a big embarrassment to our nation, that the head of anti-corruption agency in an administration led by the African Union (AU) anti-corruption champion and which prides itself on zero tolerance for corruption is being dragged in allegation of looting recovered fund and other barefaced frauds.”
The PDP demanded that President Buhari must not sweep the matter under the carpet or provide a soft landing for Magu by shielding him from prosecution.
“What Nigerians expect at this moment is for President Buhari to enforce the law by directing relevant agencies to commence actions that would lead to Magu’s prosecution in the court.
Anything short of this will not be acceptable to Nigerians,” the statement added.
President Buhari suspended Magu as acting EFCC Chairman on Tuesday, a development which was confirmed by top officials at the Presidency.
However, the Presidency is yet to release a formal statement to that effect.
