Corruption Invitation: Magu Should Step Aside – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked that the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu step aside from his office as a federal government panel investigates his agency.

The party said such was neccesary in order for the federal government to preserve the integrity of the office of the Chairman of the commission and for investigators to take charge of every activity of the office to forestall destruction of evidence.

Magu was earlier in the day invited by a Presidential Panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC, at the Banquet Hall wing of the Presidential Villa,  Abuja. 

The PDP in a statement issued by its Spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration “to show the genuineness of its war against corruption by allowing the unhindered investigation of Magu.”

Ologbondiyan said for the EFCC boss to be accompanied by a lawyer reveals that the said “invitation”, was beyond the routine.

He said “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.”

According to the PDP spokesman, Magu, with the corruption investigation, has “lost the moral rectitude to continue to preside over the anti-corruption agency. He should step aside until he proves himself innocent.”