EFCC: Magu In Alleged Cover-Up As Unknown People Break Into NFIU Office, Destroy Computers

Some unknown persons on Friday broke into the new office of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and destroyed computers containing certain vital and sensitive documents that could help in the ongoing investigation of the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

According to THISDAY, the move is suspected to be the latest attempt by EFCC operatives of the to cover up some facts about the commission’s operations following the arrest and detention of Magu who is being questioned for alleged corruption by a presidential panel headed by a former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

It was gathered that some officials of NFIU appeared before the presidential panel on Thursday to help with the investigation of Magu, who they had earlier investigated of financial malfeasance.

But the NFIU officials told the panel that by their operational protocols and procedure, they don’t go about with documents. The officials however, advised members of the panel to visit their office Friday morning to sight the documents requested for.

However, before the panel members got to the NFIU office on Friday morning, some unknown persons had broken into the office, went straight to the room where the documents were stored in the computers and destroyed them all.

The Director-General of NFIU, Mr. Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, had since reported the incident to President Muhammadu Buhari who approved Magu’s suspension Friday afternoon.

There are reports that Magu has been replaced with the commission’s Director of Operations, Mr Mohammed Umar, as the new acting Chairman of the EFCC, but the Presidency has not issued an official statement regarding the unfolding development.

KanyiDaily had reported that Magu was arrested by security operatives on Monday, July 6, 2029, and whisked away to the Presidential Villa to face an investigate panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The embattled former acting chairman is being interrogated by Ayo Salami-led presidential panel over allegations of gross misconduct against him.

Magu was arrested following some allegations levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a memo to the President.

The memo raised by Malami has some damning allegations against Magu, who was alleged, among other allegations, of insubordination to the AGF, ‘relooting of recovered loots’ and Sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends.

The EFCC Boss was also accused of corruption and money laundering based on allegations that he owns four questionable properties and that he was allegedly transferring funds abroad through a third party.

On Tuesday, July 7,2020, President Buhari suspended Magu as the EFCC acting chairman, pending the conclusion of the panel’s investigation.