President Muhammadu Buhari will re-present the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, to the Senate for confirmation, Independent has learnt.
Citing security report by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Senate had on Thursday, December 15, 2016, rejected the confirmation of Magu, an Assistant Police Commissioner, as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency.
However, according to a credible source in the presidency, having examined the issues involved, the president “will likely re-present Magu to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency when the lawmakers resume plenary after the New Year break.”

The source also said since Magu’s rejection by the Senate, many influential Nigerians including religious leaders, civil society organisations and even international agencies have sent emissaries to the president asking him not to succumb to the Senate’s desire to frustrate the anti-corruption war.

“The president knew what he wanted when he appointed Magu to head the EFCC. And since his appointment, he has not disappointed his employer and Nigerians who are adversely affected by the hydra-headed monster called corruption.

“A lot of Nigerians including religious bodies and even international agencies who have been monitoring the anti-corruption war have sent emissaries to the president on the need to insist on Magu as the head of EFCC and I think that is what the president will do.

“As you can see, there is a division among the leadership of the Senate on Magu’s fate. While Senator Ali Ndume last week said he has not been rejected, the Senate’s spokesman said Ndume was speaking for himself and that there is no going back on his (Magu)’s rejection,” he said.

Also speaking with Independent, Itse Sagay (SAN), chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), said the rejection of Magu by the Senate is tantamount to corruption fighting back and the president should not succumb to that.
Sagay, who said the report used in indicting Magu has no basis, said President Buhari should re-present him to the Senate. Failure to do so, according to him, will spell doom for the war against corruption.
“Absolutely, his name should be re-presented to the Senate for confirmation. As I said earlier in one of my statements, he is one of the best we’ve ever had. His activity is reminiscent of the (Nuhu) Ribadu era where the EFCC was really very dynamic, active and productive.
“We cannot afford to lose his services. I will definitely encourage President Buhari to re-present his name because he has done nothing. The report against him has no basis and the conclusions are all wrong. We all know that he was not the one who hired the house he lives in, it was the government itself.

“So, anybody attacking him on the basis of that is only attacking the government and a government agency over which he has no control. So, for me, all these things constitute corruption fighting back. Some groups of people within government itself are trying to deprive us of the services of this man of integrity. It will be a great loss to the corruption struggle if his name is not re-presented,” he said.

Also, in a related development, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Senator David Umaru, on Monday said the issue of Magu’s confirmation has not been discussed at plenary.
Speaking with newsmen in Minna, Umaru who represents Niger East Senatorial District at the Senate said that “the issue of Magu was never voted on in plenary, so as far as I am concerned Magu’s nomination was never rejected.

“If somebody says it was rejected it was probably a mistake, me, I have not voted. The Senate operates by rules, the rule is that this thing must be presented to us either by the committee or through direct interaction with the members in plenary none of this has happened.

“The issue of Magu was discussed only in the executive session of the Senate. It was not an issue discussed at plenary so anything done in the executive session is not the same thing as that done in plenary, so as far as I am concerned the issue of Magu, the consideration of his nomination was never considered by the Senate.”

He further disclosed that the matter has been referred to the presidency to “do due diligence” because of the conflicting reports from the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

“Now that they have that development from the DSS the matter was referred back to the presidency so that they can clarify the matter after which the Senate will now consider it,” he noted