SARAKI PROBE: Magu out to get his pound of flesh, secure 2nd term in office —Frank

A former All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy national publicity secretary, Timi Frank, has accused the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, of having ulterior motive in the commission’s investigation of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

According to Frank, “Magu is out to get his pound of flesh” on Saraki for presiding over a Senate that refused to confirm him as the chairman of the EFCC.

Frank stated this in response to EFCC investigation of Saraki’s tenure as governor of Kwara State between 2003 – 2011.

While Saraki has described the move as a witch-hunt against his person, the anti-graft agency claims the probe is being carried out for public interest and the personal good of the Saraki.

But in a statement he made available to newsmen, Frank described the EFCC move as laughable, adding that EFCC under its acting chairman, Magu, has “since derailed from the lofty objectives for which it was set up.”

“It is lamentable that what was established by law to sanitise and rid the country of economic and financial crimes has suffered a terrible hijack by puppeteers now using it to settle personal and political scores.

“How do you launch an investigation into the legitimate earnings of a public servant who served his state meritoriously as governor from 2003 – 2011 and still claim that the move is for public interest and the subject’s personal interest?

“Nigerians are no fools. They know that Magu is out to get his pound of flesh following his non-confirmation by the Senate through an illegal and unjust investigation aimed at tarnishing the image of Saraki which he has repeatedly failed to achieve since 2015.

“Let me remind the EFCC that Nigerians are still waiting for them to investigate a bullion van that hurled humongous cash into the Ikoyi residence of a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the general elections. Or are the laws and regulations of the Commission only meant for certain individuals?

“Besides, when has the “personal good” of Saraki or any citizen for that matter, become the official business of the EFCC? Was the Commission set up to look after the welfare of individuals?

“This is why I dare say without fear of contradiction that the EFCC under its present leadership has lost focus, is heavily compromised and has since abandoned the lofty objectives for which the agency was conceptualized.

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“There is no gainsaying the fact that Magu is using the Saraki investigation as a bait to secure a second term in office after almost completing an illegal one foisted on the country by the worst government ever in the history of Nigeria.

“How will local and international partners respect a body that is not run according to law but the personal whims and caprices of its leader and a cabal that mean no good for the country?” He said.

Frank called on the EFCC to leave Saraki alone and shun using his powers as chairman of the commission to settle personal scores.

According to him, Magu should better focus on working in the overall interest of every Nigerian.

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