×

Corruption Allegation: Salami Panel Submits Investigative Report On Magu

After over three months of investigations into the activities of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under its suspended acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, full reports of the investigation have been submitted to the president.


A file photo of Ibrahim Magu.

 

 

After over three months of investigations into the activities of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under its suspended acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, full reports of the investigation have been submitted to the president.

The panel, headed by a retired justice and president of the appeal court, Ayo Salami, on Friday presented the reports contained in four boxes at the council chambers of the presidential villa.

President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the panel in July and was given 45 days to carry out the assignment but the time frame was extended further after the panel requested for more time.

Read Also: Lagos Judicial Panel Resumes Sitting

It was mandated to probe allegations of corruption and abuse of office leveled against Mr Magu by the Attorney General and Minister Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Reports say the panel chairman had earlier submitted a summary of their findings to the president’s Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

No More Police

In his recommendations on Friday, Salami advised that the next head of the anti-corruption agency should come from outside of the Police Force.

According to him, the four previous chairmen of the EFCC since inception were from the police, so an opportunity should be open to persons from other law enforcement or security agencies as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.

Justice Salami believes this will help the commission better reposition itself for greater effectiveness.

“Four successive chairmen of the EFCC from inception, have been drawn from the police,” he said.

“Therefore, in appointing a new chairman of the EFCC, consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.”

“It is also important to point out that there are 970 policemen, 114 drivers, and 641 mobile policemen, and 215 operators on secondment to the EFCC.

“Therefore, an exit plan for the disengagement and other personnel within two years from now should be considered. This will address the issue of no promotion of core staff for over nine years. For over nine years, some of the core staff are stagnant in one position which is unhealthy and is creating some sort of rivalry between the police and the core staff of the EFCC. Your excellency, our thinking here is that whoever you are appointing, other than a core EFCC staff should be in the transitional capacity of two years, during which period arrangement can be made for the appointment of the core EFCC staff who had proven themselves commendable.”