President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate regarding the screening and confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The current acting chairman, Mr. Magu, was appointed the acting chair of the EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on November 9, 2015. Prior to his appointment as acting chair of the anti-graft commission, Mr. Magu was the head EFCC’s Economic Governance Unit (EGU).
While he served as the head of the EGU, according to Premium Times, Mr. Magu had a reputation, among his peers, of being “an incorruptible and courageous officer.” He was one of the top picks for joining the EFCC the first chairman, Nuhu Ribadu’s tenure. He was also on the top of the list of Mr. Lamorde’s list of police officers who were to be deployed to the EFCC.
He was at the forefront of the EFCC’s investigations into former governor of Kwara State and current serving Senator Bukola Saraki’s role in the collapse of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, and former governor of Delta State, James Ibori’s money laundering case.
The letter, which was signed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo - who was in his capacity as acting President when Mr. Buhari was in the United Kingdom on a trip- was read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the Senate plenary on Thursday.
If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Magu will be the fourth chair of the EFCC after Mr. Ribadu, Farida Waziri, and Mr. Lamorde.
