The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of condoning corruption following reported moves to promote the embattled former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu.
Magu was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police in 2018 by the Police Service Commission, PSC, was indicted for fraud by a Presidential panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami.
The panel had specifically recommended the removal of Magu “for failing to properly account for N431,000,000.00 security votes/information fund released to the office of the Executive Chairman of EFCC between November 2015 and May 2020,” among sundry offences.
Despite his indictment, reports in the media suggested that Magu has again been pencil down for elevation to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police; a development the PDP said would make a laughing stock of Buhari’s anti-corruption posturing.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP described as outrageous and a direct slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians that “the Buhari administration is reportedly planning to promote Magu to Assistant Inspector General of Police, despite being indicted in the alleged stealing of billions of naira recovered by the EFCC as well as cases of abuse of office in the commission by the Justice Ayo Salami Presidential investigation panel.”
According to the main opposition party, “it is indeed ludicrous, though true to its proclivity to cover corruption, that the Buhari Presidency, instead of allowing the law to take its course, is rather rewarding corruption by reportedly planning to promote an individual indicted for treasury looting and compromising of high-profile corruption cases for pecuniary gains.
“Our party invites Nigerians to note how the Buhari administration has failed to take disciplinary action against Magu, as recommended by the Salami panel, but seeks to reward him with a promotion in spite of the report by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, which nailed him for alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC.
“This is in addition to reports by the Department of State Services, DSS, which also stated that Magu had failed ‘the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government.’”
The statement continued: “The reports of planned promotion for Magu has heightened apprehension in the public space that certain top officials in the Buhari Presidency are overburdened with corruption complicity and fears that a docked Magu would expose their atrocities.
“Nigerians could recall how the counsel to Magu, Wahab Shittu, boastfully declared that he has Magu’s instruction to inform the public that ‘he will be reinstated back to the office.’
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“The PDP however calls on the Police Service Commission, PSC, and the Police high command to resist the pressure from the corrupt cabal in the Buhari Presidency to pitch them against Nigerians over Magu but rather commence processes for his prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction in the interest of justice.
“The PDP further counsels President Buhari not to ‘ease off’ the allegations of corruption against Magu but should make the Justice Salami’s report open and if necessary, prosecute the former EFCC chairman.”
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