EFCC boss Magu intensifies lobby for Senate confirmation

Almost one year after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mr. Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), his appointment is yet to be confirmed by the Nigerian Senate.

Recall that the Presidency had on the 14th of July, 2016, wrote to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of Magu as chairman of EFCC. The letter was read on the floor one week before lawmakers embarked on their annual vacation.

President Buhari appointed Magu acting chairman of EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on November 9, 2015. Magu, if confirmed by the Senate, will be the the fourth head of the anti-graft agency, after Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.

Before his appointment by Buhari as head of EFCC, Magu was the head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission.

But worried that his confirmation may hit a cul de sac, Magu has intensified lobby, in a fresh attempt to get the nod of the Senate leadership and the relevant committees to hasten up.

Magu who is perceived to have rumpled some feathers, including that of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, visits the National Assembly regularly where he meets with the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

Read also: Blogger arrested for allegedly stalking Magu

On April 20th, 2016, Magu and Ekweremadu had an altercation, following the decoration of the latter as anti-corruption ambassador of EFCC by its National Assembly liaison officer. Magu had maintained that the award given to Ekweremadu was of no consequence as the officer acted on his own.

Similarly, EFCC under the leadership of Magu was believed to have assisted the Federal Government’s team prosecuting Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) .

It was gathered that Enang is meeting with chairmen of relevant committees, as well as influential members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to give the acting EFCC boss a soft landing when his name comes for confirmation.

A source familiar with the development, told Ripples Nigeria in confidence that Magu is not getting the needed support from the kitchen cabinet of President Buhari in pushing through his confirmation.

He said: “Unlike other appointees of President Buhari, Magu is not getting the needed support. For instance, the Chief of Staff to President Buhari and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) are not intervening. It’s like Magu is on his own.

“I think that is why he (Magu) is taking it upon himself to lobby lawmakers. He is always at the National Assembly to meet with Enang and see how things can be smoothed out and get his confirmation done as soon as possible.”

Speaking the issue, spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, declined to comment, saying that he “does not respond to rumours.” He did not make further comments on the issue.

By Ehisuan‎ Odia….

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