What DSS told AGF about Magu
The Presidency’s clearance of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and renominating him for Senate confirmation in January this year was done in disregard of a memo from the Directorate of State Services [DSS] which warned that Magu is unfit for that high office, according to documents seen by Daily Trust on Saturday. It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari renominated Magu after Magu refused to confirm him last December and said in his letter to Senate that Magu had been cleared of the allegations made against him. When Senate screened Magu ten days ago however, another letter from DSS was read by Senator Dino Melaye in which the secret service said it stood by its earlier indictment of Magu, leading to his failure to get Senate confirmation for the second time.
The latest leaked memo was the one DSS sent to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami in December last year, when he requested for additional information/documents from it. Buhari had asked Malami to investigate Magu and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal, after Senate accused both of committing offences. In response, DSS sent a seven page memo signed by Folashade Bello on behalf of DSS’ Director General Lawal Daura. The memo had 12 annexures. One contained minutes of the Police Service Commission’s 20th Plenary Meeting chaired by retired DIG Parry Osayande on December 20, 2010. The commission indicted Magu of charges made against him and awarded Severe Reprimand for “action prejudicial to state security, withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer.” DSS pointed out that this is the highest punishment in the police short of dismissal.
Another annexure was a confessional statement of retired Air Commodore Umar Mohammed, former member of the presidential panel probing Dasukigate arms purchases who is now being prosecuted by DSS. In it he admitted ownership of Valcour SA Nigeria Limited, the company contracted by Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) to procure a furnished accommodation for Magu. DSS says the house that Magu lives in belongs to the Air Commodore and that his associate Uche Eleka first showed Magu the house before FCTA was asked to hire it. A third annexure, according to DSS, was a forged memo found in Umar’s house, allegedly from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office, as well as two genuine EFCC reports on a probe of Minister of State for Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu. DSS inferred that Magu gave them to Umar to use for blackmail activities.
Several other annexures were also classified EFCC documents that DSS said it seized during a raid of Umar’s house. They include a memo sent to Magu by Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari, duly stamped by EFCC but which DSS found in Umar’s house. Other sensitive EFCC documents DSS found in Umar’s house include a classified letter sent to Magu by National Security Adviser Major General Mohammed Monguno on freezing of accounts of Bebey Merchant Limited; an NNPC letter to Magu dated May last year on Stop Debit Order on NNPC Accounts; and two more sensitive letters that NNPC sent to the Acting EFCC Chairman on related issues, also found in Umar’s house.
The DSS memo to the Attorney General flatly stated, “An officer appointed as Acting Chairman of EFCC should by all means be one of impeccable credentials, with proven integrity and capacity to lead the nation’s fight against graft in high and low places. Thus far, it is evident from Magu’s antecedents that he is by no means that kind of officer. His relationship with Umar Mohammed which involved disclosure of very sensitive and classified official documents in his possession shows lack of professionalism and assails his integrity. Moreso, for an officer who was indicted and nearly dismissed six years ago to again be involved in similar circumstances, it is clear that Magu is a perennial offender and cannot change. Also worthy of note is the fact that Magu exhibited a total lack of judgement where it matters most. He accepted to move into a tastily furnished accommodation without any scrutiny of how it was furnished. This is curious and speaks volumes of his personality.”
DSS also said, “The recovery of sensitive and classified documents from the residence of Umar further underlays his close affinity to Magu and an apparent penchant for sabotaging official processes and official protocols just to further the latter’s personal material and pecuniary agenda. Such mutually beneficial relationships as with Umar who by his confession, approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns is unprecedented and very damning of an anti-graft top official. If has exposed Magu as a fraudulent officer and betrays the high confidence reposed in him by the President.”
DSS added, “A further demonstration of Magu’s questionable credibility as an untainted anti-corruption official is his failed bid to settle personal scores with one Stanley Inye Lawson by placing him on Security Watch Action. It was however discovered that Lawson was actually working in the interest of the Federal Government and the action was subsequently expunged. This reinforces the view that Magu may continue to exploit his official position, if confirmed as EFFC Chairman, and indulge in other unprofessional and criminal conducts for personal aggrandisement contrary to his oath of office.”
Attorney General Malami could not be reached last night to confirm if he received this memo from DSS and if, despite it, he advised the Presidency that Magu had been cleared of all the allegations, which led to his second, failed nomination as substantive EFCC Chairman.