THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described the alleged plan by the Presidency to promote the ousted acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, as outrageous.
In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, today, the party said the allegation further confirms that the President Muhammadu Buhari government “is a sanctuary of corruption.”
According to the PDP, it is a direct slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians that the Buhari administration is 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.
Recall that Magu was in July last year unceremoniously removed as EFCC’s acting chairman and later made to face very thorough investigation by the Justice Ayo Salami Presidential investigation panel.
“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 planning to promote an individual indicted for treasury looting and compromising of high-profile corruption cases for pecuniary gains,” the party said.
The PDP noted that it is sad that the president has ignored all the corruption allegations against Magu and 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 party further noted.
According to the PDP, reports of planned promotion for Magu have “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.”
The PDP called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Police high command to resist the pressure 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.
It also urged Buhari not to “ease off” the allegations of corruption against Magu but should make Justice Salami’s report open and if necessary, prosecute the former EFCC chairman.
