The trending news of DSS arrest and detention of Ibrahim Magu, former Acting Chairman of EFCC two weeks ago, has continued to agitate the minds of Nigerians and the international community.
Magu has since been interrogated and released on bail pending his prosecution. But it is still shocking to imagine that a respected public officer in Buhari administration, entrusted with the noble responsibility of ensuring that our commonwealth is properly managed and secured, would end up suspended as a persona non grata.
One of the priority charges against the former EFCC boss had to do with his attitude in shielding high profile cases away from litigation, obviously for personal pecuniary benefits.
In the course of Magu’s investigation, a team of security personnel stormed his house to discover some files belonging to high level politicians, whose corruption cases have been swept under the carpet. One of the files belonged to Adam Oshiomhole, former National Chairman of APC.
Since 2016, Bishop (Dr.) Osadolor Ochei JP, a human rights activist and anti-corruption crusader based in Benin City, brought Adam Oshiomhole’s case to EFCC, accusing him of ill-gotten wealth with which he acquired a sprawling city of mansions, in Iyambo his home town worth over N10 billion, while in office. Not much has been heard about that case up until now. Similarly, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, current APC governorship candidate in Edo, supported by Oshiomhole, was also entangled in a N700 million money laundering crime in 2016, which EFCC pursued briefly and stopped.
At the moment, and especially following Magu’s shameful inquiry, ‘Magu boys’ are fighting back against Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the federation, who masterminded Magu’s arrest. They have given information to Sahara Reporters, to the effect that the Minister of Justice is far from being the saint he claims to be. He has allegedly built a house for his son worth over N100 million in Birnin Kebbi, as well as a 3-star hotel and a school, all from illegally acquired wealth while in office. To them, Malami is another corrupt ‘big fish’ that should not be allowed to escape judgement. But whether government is willing to investigate and prosecute these and other emerging cases, is another issue altogether.
John Daniel Obioma