Magu Dodges Question On Tinubu’s ‘Bullion Vans’
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has declined to speak on the alleged cash-laden bullion vans driven into the Bourdillon, Ikoyi, residence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hours to the 2019 presidential election.
Tinubu, the acclaimed national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had been accused of moving huge sums of money to his residence on the eve of the February 23 presidential to influence the outcome of the poll.
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Magu had been asked to speak on a petition filed against Tinubu by the convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, regarding the alleged movement of cash, but the EFCC chairman avoided the question.
An agitated Magu responded, “You want me to talk about a petition here? Next question please,” Punch quoted him to have said.
The question came up during a press conference Magu convened in Abuja, where the EFCC boss bemoaned high rate of corruption in the country.
Tinubu himself had in February confirmed that bullion vans had been used to move money to his residence hours before the presidential election.
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“Excuse me, is it my money or government money? I don’t work for the government. I am not in an agency of government and let anyone come out to say I have collected contract from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari or the APC in the last five years. They should prove it.
“I am on my own and I am committed to my party. So, even if I have money to spend on my premises, what is your headache? If I don’t represent any agency of government and I have money to spend, if I like, I give it to the people free of charge as long as it is not to buy votes.
“Who are those monitoring my house or bullion vans? They must be mischief makers because they report falsehood. They are liars and idle,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Lagos state chapter of the APC had in reaction to the petition filed against Tinubu challenged anyone to come forward with proof that the APC chieftain stole government funds.
“Let them come up with the proof. The man is a private citizen and he has been out of government for the past 12 years. If he has decided to spend his money on his party, how is that a problem? Let them come up with a proof that somebody’s money is missing,” said Abiodun Salami, the spokesperson for the APC in Lagos.
