OYOGist.com has learned that Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has rejected all charges against him, saying he has served the nation with integrity.
Magu is being investigated by a presidential committee led by retired judge Ayo Salami for allegations of serious misconduct in the activities of the EFCC under his supervision.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had accused the controversial head of the EFCC of fraudulent activities.
However, Magu denied all allegations of a defence document as false and a calculated attempt to defile his name. He insisted that not a single cent of the funds recovered had been fraudulently converted for his personal use and asked his accusers to provide evidence of such fraudulent conversion.
Part of Malami’s request reads: “For example, the EFCC declared 836 as the number of properties recovered in the original restitutions it made to the President on 7 April 2017.
“However, in the first restitution to PCARA on 13.12.2017, the EFCC declared the number 339, while in the second restitution to PCARA on 09.03.2018, it declared the number of recovered properties as 504. In the 1st and 2nd restitution the total number was 843.
In response, Magu said: “As the official acting chairman of the Commission, I have worked to ensure that corruption in Nigeria is fought to the end.”
“Some of the suspects investigated and prosecuted constantly join in defending themselves against me by publishing false, misleading and slanderous allegations against me. I have never abused the office I hold for the pleasure of the President”.
“I have never been personally enriched in the exercise of my official duties. I ask my accusers to present any evidence of this alleged personal enrichment,” said Magu.
He further argued that there had been no cases of mismanagement of assets or funds confiscated under his supervision.
“No assets were sold and the proceeds converted. There was no mismanagement or lack of transparency in the management of the assets recovered under my direction from the Commission.
There was no diversion of the proceeds of confiscated assets or personal enrichment on my part. A careful examination of what was recovered and what was paid into the relevant accounts will easily confirm this.
“I unequivocally deny that these allegations are false and that they are simply aimed at tarnishing my name, the name of the Commission, and the enormous steps this administration has taken in fighting corruption and recovering the proceeds of corruption,” he said.
Magu also stated that he had not used the recovered funds for his personal use and asked the Minister of Justice to provide evidence of such fraudulent conversion.
He accused the AGF office of interference and accused it of being less cooperative and supporting the process of asset recovery and management.
“I am innocent. I have served my country to the best of my ability with full responsibility and integrity,” Magu said.
He said the records of her achievements were available for all to see.
“I respectfully invite the panel to take note of the outstanding and unprecedented achievements of the EFCC under my supervision as acting chairman,” he said.
