The Acting Chairman of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has refused to speak out on the controversy trailing the recovered N15 billion, from a flat in Ikoyi, Lagos, last week.
Recall, that the EFCC had on Thursday, stormed a luxury apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, where it discovered cash in three currencies, stashed in fire-proof safes. During the raid on one of the flats on the 7th floor of Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, a total of N13 billion, made up of $43.4 million, N23 million, and £27,000, was found.
Thereafter, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, claimed that the recovered money was allegedly stolen from the State coffers, by his immediate predecessor and current Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.
Reacting to the shocking event, the majority of prominent Nigerians have insisted that the EFCC must speak out on the intelligence that led the agency to the building, the result of its investigation, and the ownership of the money.
Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who claimed the development was a reflection of the rot in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, insisted that it was a problem created by the government itself.
He said: “Government set up Commissions by law to fight corruption, and they are fighting each other, is that not corruption? What is happening now, shows the rottenness in the government.
“Those who rejected the DSS report on Magu, what have they to say? Is that not the body empowered to investigate any public officer, and this agency sent a report to the Senate that Magu was not credible to lead EFCC, and you declined their report and yet, you still keep them. The moment you have lost confidence in them, you sack them, since you no longer believe in them?
“That’s the responsibility of a responsible government. The moment you are no longer comfortable with an agency or its recommendations, you sack them. In fact, this is the first time in the history of government in this country, that the DSS recommendation was turned down, and when you don’t believe in it anymore, you sack them. You can’t continue to keep the DSS there because you have shown that you are not comfortable with them. If a Permanent Secretary doesn’t perform, what do you do? You sack!” he said.
