Magu Reportedly Blocked From Seeing Buhari, Meets Osinbajo

The embattled acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has been unable to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari since the rejection of his confirmation by the Senate, Punch reports.

The Senate, had on Thursday, refused to confirm Magu, basing 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.”

But since his rejection by the senate, the Punch report said he has made spirited efforts to see President Buhari without success.

The report further added that “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.

While he failed to see the President, Magu is reported to have me with Vice President Osinbajo at weekend.

At the meeting, held under the auspices of the Asset Recovery team with the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami;  the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, and others, in attendance, it was gathered that a lot of issues came up for and against the EFCC chairman.

It was learnt that attempts were made by some forces to prevail on the presidency to ask the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to query Magu on the allegations raised by the DSS.

Other stakeholders, however, opposed the suggestion because it would have amounted to pronouncing Magu guilty as charged.

The larger stakeholders wanted the government to seek a second opinion through independent source on the allegations in the DSS report.

Based on the advice of most stakeholders, Magu was asked to continue to perform his duties as the Acting EFCC chairman until President Muhammadu Buhari decides on whether or not to re-nominate and recommend him to the Senate for a fresh confirmation process.