The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the investigation of Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), raises questions about the integrity of the anti-graft agency under the current administration.
The PDP said this in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, on Monday in reaction to Magu’s appearance before a presidential panel.
The EFCC czar was on Monday whisked by security operatives to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to answer questions before the Justice Ayo Salami (rtd) panel on allegations bordering on corruption.
According to the major opposition party, the acknowledgement of the EFCC that Magu was accompanied by a lawyer to the panel hearing shows that the said “invitation” is beyond the routine.
The statement read: “The PDP holds that the development around the EFCC acting Chairman as well as the desperate attempt by the Commission to cover or wave off his investigation, only raise more integrity questions regarding Magu’s activities in the EFCC.
“Only last month, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minster of Justice, Abubakar Malami, released a memo in which he indicted Magu of alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC.
“Our party, Nigerians and indeed, the international community are keenly monitoring the development and expect the Buhari Presidency to muster the courage to carry out a comprehensive investigation and make its findings available to the public.”
The PDP said President Myhammadu Buhari must show the genuineness of its war against corruption by allowing the unhindered investigation of Magu.
It added that Magu must be asked to step aside to forestall what it described as “the destruction of evidence”.
“Now that Magu has been pulled in for investigation, the Federal Government should preserve the integrity of the office of the Chairman of the EFCC by ordering him to step aside while investigators take charge of every activities of the office to forestall destruction of evidence as well as unnecessary interferences in the matter.
“Moreover, with the allegations and investigation, Magu has lost the moral rectitude to continue to preside over the anti-corruption agency. He should step aside until he proves himself innocent,” the statement read.
