Ibrahim Magu

Ibrahim Magu (born 5 May 1962), is a Nigerian police officer who served as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC from 9 November 2015, until his suspension on 7 July 2020.[1] He was replaced by Muhammed Umar as the acting EFCC chairman.[2]

Ibrahim Magu
Acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
In office
9 November 2015 – 7 July 2020
Preceded byIbrahim Lamorde
Succeeded byMuhammed Umar
Personal details
Born (1962-05-05) 5 May 1962
Maiduguri, Borno State
NationalityNigerian
Alma materAhmadu Bello University
OccupationPolice officer

Magu was appointed as EFCC chairman after Ibrahim Lamorde, who has earlier served twice was sacked by President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.[3][4] Both Lamorde and Magu served during Nuhu Ribadu’s time at the anti-graft agency and were also credited with part of the success Ribadu recorded in his time.[5]

Early career

Magu was born on 5 May 1962 in Maiduguri, Borno State. He attended Maiduguri’s primary school (from 1969 to 1975), Waka Biu's Secondary School from 1975 to 1980 and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1982 to 1986 where he graduated with a B.Sc Accounting.[6] After the completion of his National Youth Service Corps, he served in various Ministries and Departments in the Borno State Government as an Accountant and rose to become a Zonal Accountant before he voluntarily resigned to join the Nigeria Police Force as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1990. He was the Coordinator, Nigeria Police Building Society before moving on to Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) where he served as a team leader in charge of Financial Crimes, Money Laundering and Advance Fee Fraud investigation.[7][8]

He served a member of the investigative committee convened by National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the procurement of arms in the Armed Forces from 2007 to 2020.[9]

Magu remains unconfirmed as the Chairman of EFFC which is one of the challenges and controversies being faced by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on appointments and nominations confirmation.[10][11][12] The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Friday, 28 April 2018 announced the promotion of 18 senior officers after her 27th Plenary Meeting which ended in Abuja where Magu was promoted to the rank of a full commissioner from deputy commissioner.[13]

At the end of the 8th Regional Conference of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa held at Transcorp Hilton (Abuja, Nigeria) on 19 May 2018, Magu has emerged their new chairman. His appointment was the highpoint of a five-day regional conference with the theme: “Partnering Towards Assets Recovery and Return”.[14][15][16][17][18]

On May 29, 2018, the EFCC announced that 603 Nigerian figures had been convicted on corruption charges since Buhari and Magu assumed their offices in 2015.[19] The EFCC also announced that for the first time in Nigeria's history, judges and military officials were prosecuted.[19]

Arrest

On 6 July 2020, Magu was arrested for corruption charges related to finances he allegedly embezzled for, among other among things, supporting his lavish living and traveling expenses.[20] twenty-two corruption allegations were reported against Magu in June 2020 as well.[21] Following his arrest, Magu remained in custody.[20]

That week, President Buhari convened an investigative panel led by Justice Ayo Salami.[22] In late November the panel presented its report (the "Salami Report") confidentially to President Buhari.[22] Two weeks later President Buhari released the report which cleared Magu of the charges, and indicated that there had been a plot to discredit Magu in order to stop his anti-corruption activities.[23] It is suggested[23][24] that Attorney General Abubakar Malami was involved with the plot, in part because of the animosity he showed towards Magu, and his direct action writing a letter to President Buhari on 5 June 2020 entitled "Flagrant abuse of public office and other infractions committed by Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission".[21]

Suspension as EFCC chairman

On 7 July 2020, Magu was suspended as the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because of corruption allegations leveled against him.[25][26][27]

References
  1. "Buhari 'suspends' EFCC chair, Magu". Daily Trust Newspaper. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  2. "After EFCC chairman, Umar na di most senior cop for Nigeria corruption police". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  3. Channels Television. "Buhari Sacks EFCC Boss, Appoints Magu As Chairman". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. Ogala, Emmanuel. "UPDATED: Buhari removes EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, appoints replacement". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. Nuruddeen, Abdallah; Isiaka, Wakili; Ismail, Mudashir. "EFCC: Why Buhari fired Lamorde". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. Andrella, Tersoo. "New EFCC Chairman appointed by Buhari". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. Alkasim, Abdulkadir. "Profiling New EFCC Boss Ibrahim Magu". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. "Executive Chairman". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. Temi, Banjo. "[PHOTO, PROFILE] Meet Ibrahim Magu, The New EFCC Chairman". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  10. Tonye, Bakare. "Again, Senate rejects Magu as EFCC boss". Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  11. Channels Television. "Senate Rejects Magu's Confirmation As EFCC Boss Again". Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  12. Hassan, Adebayo. "UPDATED: How Senate rejected Magu as EFCC Chairman". Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  13. Samuel, Ogundipe. "Police promote EFCC Chairman Magu, 17 others". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  14. "8th Commonwealth Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa". The Common Wealth. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. "Commonwealth fights back against 'tsunami of global corruption'". The Commonwealth. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  16. TheCable News (19 May 2018). "Nigeria appointed chairman of Commonwealth Africa anti-corruption agencies". TheCable. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  17. Raphael, The Sun NewsPaper. "Magu emerges Chairman of Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa". Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  18. Agency Report. "Magu now leads Commonwealth Africa anti-corruption agencies". Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  19. https://allafrica.com/stories/201805290530.html
  20. Adeoye, Aanu (9 July 2020). "Nigeria's anti-corruption boss arrested for corruption". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  21. Onwuamaeze, Dike (19 June 2020). "Malami Writes President, Seeks Removal of Magu". This Day. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020.
  22. Agboola, Thomas (27 November 2020). "Salami Report: Why the silence on findings against Magu". The Nation. Nigeria. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020.
  23. Tijjani, Isah (10 December 2020). "Salami panel's report on Magu: A glaring case of miscarriage of justice". The Cable. Nigeria. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020.
  24. "Magu: Kebbi Monarch Accuses Malami Of Witch-hunting Ex-EFCC Boss". Sahara Reporters. New York. 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020.
  25. "Presidency suspends acting EFCC boss Ibrahim Magu". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  26. . (7 July 2020). "Buhari 'suspends' EFCC chair, Magu". Daily Trust. Retrieved 7 July 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. siteadmin (7 July 2020). "BREAKING: Presidency Suspends Acting EFCC Chairman, Magu". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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