Magu until Monday July 6 2020,was the image of a corruption fighting nation,He was twice nominated by President Buhari as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) .Twice his nomination was turned down by the Saraki led 8th Senate following undisclosed reports by the Directorate of State Security DSS) under Mamma Daura.
For Five years,Magu held sway as the corruption Czar,beaming searchlight on former and serving government officials, business men, the academia financial institutions and others.
Last month,a group of young Nigerian Americans under the name Nigerian Young Professional Forum ( NYPF) wrote a letter to the United States Congress where it listed a litany of allegations of corruption against the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele,Ismaila Isa Funtua, President Buhari’s close confidant, Mamman Daura,Sabiu Yusuf and others.
The NYPF, in a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives , Nancy Pelosi, Addison Mitchel McConnell,Senator of the state of Kentucky, Charles Ellis Schumer of New York and Kevin Owen of the House of Representatives drew the attention of the lawmakers to what it described as “Wanton looting” by the CBN governor and members of an inner circle of the president.
The Petition signed by Jackson Ude,a Nigerian American,and coordinator of the NYPF alleged that between 2015 and 2016 under Emefiele’s watch, the CBN conspired with NNPC to illegally divert $24,263,00856 meant to be shared to the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory, Abuja and the 774 local government areas.
The group also raised allegations on a parking lot contract which the CBN awarded to Bullet International Limited,a company owned by Ismaila Isa Funtua at a whopping sum of N30 billion which the group rejected saying that no parking lot contract in the USA cost that much arguing that the said contract violated Nigerian procurement laws.
The NYPF further alleged that Isa Funtua and others have been running a black market forex carted worth $800million every week since 2015 and continued until 2017, when the Vice President scaled it down to $500million when the President was away for medical reasons.
Consequently the group has asked the United States Congress to convene a special Congressional hearing on corruption in Nigeria and to put key players under watch list, while also invoking visa restrictions on the alleged offenders.
It assured that it would testify under oath at the US Congress and provide relevant documents to back up their claim .
This NYPF ‘s petition was sent in early June.Recall that in the month of June,a memo was sent to the then Acting Chairman of the anti-graft body,Magu by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami over allegations of corruption, diversion of funds from recovered loot and gross misconduct.
Magu was suspended from his office to pave the way for unhindered investigation into the alleged crimes.
Unconfirmed sources alleged that Magu may have divulged information of corruption in high places which is why he is being punished.
The NYPF had acknowledged the determination of Buhari to fight corruption to a standstill but said a few elements around the President are bent on tarnishing his image by not frustrating the war against corruption.
So who is responsible for Magu’s woes?
Is Magu being punished for divulging top secrets?
