Photo: EFCC - Lamorde | Magu
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde was set yesterday to wave a final bye to his prized job.
President Muhammadu Buhari, a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said, approved Mr. Ibrahim Magu’s appointment as acting chairman of the anti-graft agency. Lamorde is going on terminal leave.
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“Mr. Magu, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is to take over from Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who is proceeding on terminal leave ahead of the formal expiration of his tenure in February, next year,” the statement said.
Magu headed the agency’s investigation unit during the tenure of pioneer chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Magu, a crack detective, is a member of the panel probing the $2billion military arms deal during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to a Presidency source, Lamorde’s exit was conveyed to him early in the day but his exit was handled with dignity by the President.
A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The EFCC chairman has been removed following some allegations against him and security report.
“The Senate is looking into alleged mismanagement of N1.3trillion recovered by the anti-graft agency. The Presidency was uncomfortable with some disclosures by the petitioner, George Uboh.
“While the government does not want to tamper with the ongoing probe by the Senate, it believes it is untidy to allow the EFCC chairman to be rubbished. It is better for Lamorde to step aside.”
Another factor, which was said to have accounted for the exit of Lamorde was a security report on his alleged relationship with some former officials of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
It was gathered that the Presidency was angry that the EFCC did not take action on former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke until the National Crimes Agency in the United Kingdom invited her for questioning.
The government’s thinking, it was learnt, was that there were sufficient grounds to prevent Diezani from travelling to the UK.
It was also learnt that the EFCC bid its time in managing the investigation of former Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio when sister agencies raised the alarm.
Akpabio led the PDP Caucus in the Senate to defend Lamorde when the allegation of N1.3trillion fraud was made.
The man Magu
Acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Mustafa Magu like Lamorde, is also an assistant commissioner of police.
The man who is due to take over today, served as head of the EFCC’s Economic Governance Unit (EGU) during Nuhu Ribadu’s tenure.
He is a trained financial crimes investigator with background in forensic accounting. He also trained at the FBI institute and the London Metropolitan Police Institute.
Magu gained public attention when he led many high profile investigations against some former governors. He is a member of the investigative committee probing the $2billion arms purchase deals during the Jonathan administration
5 things to know about Ibrahim Magu, new Chairman of EFCC
1. Magu served as head of the EFCC’s Economic Governance Unit, EGU, during the tenure of Nuhu Ribadu as Chairman.
2. Magu was arrested on August 4, 2008 following allegations that police discovered EFCC files and a computer containing classified documents at his Abuja residence.
3. During his time at EFCC, he led investigations into the affairs of officials, including former Delta Governor, James Ibori, and current Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
4. Magu, who’s an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is a recipient of USG and London Metropolitan Police institute training.
5. Magu is believed to have worked with Ribadu to jail his brother-in-law and former Bank of the North chief, Shettima Bulama, who was later pardoned by former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
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