The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has reportedly ordered the arrest of a director and five officers of the agency for alleged leakage of information and corrupt practices.
As part of the bid to prepare the agency for the task of waging altruistic war on graft, the new helmsman has reportedly ordered investigation of some of its top operatives, who are believed to be living above their earnings.
The massive clean-up has caused tension in the commission because of the likely sack of bad eggs.
A source said: “The no-nonsense acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has commenced a massive clean-up of the agency with the arrest of some officers.
“Those affected are a director and five officers who are causing disaffection and engaging in corrupt practices. We will not release their names until the investigation is completed,” the source reportedly declared.
The source also gave details on the allegations against the six suspects. “They were allegedly involved in unauthorised leakages of official information and causing damaging reports based on false information to be published against the commission by bloggers.
“The action of the officers is prejudicial to discipline and violates their oath of allegiance. Those in custody include a director, some senior and lower cadre officers, including a former senior operative, who was dismissed for corruption and involvement in cult activities.
“In recent times, the EFCC has been at the receiving end of negative reports by bloggers and the mainstream media, targeting its leadership. The malicious reports have done untold damage to the reputation of the commission.
“Available facts showed that the staff, who operated as a syndicate, were desperately projecting the management staff to take over the leadership of the commission while attacking the integrity, professionalism and reputation of the EFCC.
“The investigation is still o, with the possibility of more arrests in the coming days.”
The EFCC has also started probing workers and operatives living above their means. It was also gathered that some workers, who used to collect bribes to influence investigation, were being sorted out.
“Also in focus of the discreet investigators are workers against which allegations of corruption have been made by the public.
“This clean-up has created tension in the anti-graft agency. Magu has vowed to ginger up the anti-graft campaign and he will leave no stone unturned.”
By Olisemeka Obeche