Fraudsters Soliciting Bribes In My Name – Magu

Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has warned members of the public against falling prey to fraudsters who perpetrate crime in his name.

Magu, in a statement on Tuesday, said some criminals have been constantly going behind the EFCC’s back to send invitation letters to public officials, especially sitting governors and ministers.

In the statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Magu said the swindlers send the invitations to the “politically exposed” with a view to dupe them.

The EFCC chairman dissociated himself from the acts, saying on no account should anyone offer bribe to criminals who pretend to represent him.

“For the umpteenth time, the EFCC is constrained to alert the public on the activities of fraudsters who have been extorting prominent officeholders using the name of its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

“Their targets include sitting governors, ministers, and national chairmen of leading political parties.

“Members of these criminal gangs, from available information, have been writing invitation letters to some politically exposed persons on the pretext that such communication emanated from the office of the acting chairman of the EFCC.

“The commission has had cause to issue a public disclaimer of such fraudulent letters, still the criminals are undeterred.

“The EFCC wishes to dissociate itself from the activities of these criminal gangs.

“It is important to state that Magu has not written or mandated anyone to write any invitation letter to any state governor.

“He has no reason to do so as they belong to the category of officials that enjoy constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.

“Under no circumstance should members of the public offer gratification to anyone that claims to be an officer of the EFCC.

“Indeed such demand for gratification is enough indication that an impostor was up to mischief and should immediately be reported to the nearest office of the commission or police station.

“Magu has not mandated any one to approach anybody to collect bribes on his behalf.

“Any one claiming to represent his interest in any such unwholesome transaction should be apprehended,” Uwujaren said.