Magu

The Presidency has dismissed social media report on the removal of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, describing the report as “speculative and pre-emptive.’’

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari made this known in his Facebook page on Saturday.

According to him, the presidency is still awaiting the outcome of an investigative panel instituted against Magu by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

He said: “we are reading reports that the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu has been sacked’’.

“No report has been made available to the Presidency by the Attorney-General of the Federation over the matter.

“The report of his sack is therefore speculative and pre-emptive.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to investigate the various allegations against some top Federal Government officials.

They include Magu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

The President’s directive, followed persistent media reports alleging corrupt practices against the affected government officials.

NAN reliably gathered that the AGF had since issued queries to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC and the SGF.

The rumour of Magu’s removal hit the social media and some local media websites in the early hours of Saturday.

Citing anonymous sources, The Guardian newspaper reported on its website that Magu had been redeployed to the Nigeria Police Force to pave way for a fresh nominee by Buhari.

The report said the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had already notified the EFCC Acting Chairman on the development through a letter.

Malami, according to the report, has also directed Magu to hand over to the Director of Operations in the commission.

It would be recalled that Magu’s nomination was recently turned down by the Senate, citing security report compiled by the Department of State Services (DSS).

He has been heading the commission in acting capacity since November, 2015 when he was nominated by the president. (NAN)

The EFCC has also earlier debunked speculation that its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has been removed from office.

“It is not true,” spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in response to an SMS enquiry by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

He has been heading the commission in acting capacity since November 2015 when he was nominated by the president. (NAN)