Minister: Magu still on FG payroll as police officer — we’re awaiting final decision

Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of police affairs, says Ibrahim Magu, former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is still on the payroll of the federal government.

The minister said this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television.

Magu was the acting chairman of the EFCC between 2015 and 2020, but was arrested on July 7, 2020, detained and suspended as the head of the anti-graft agency.

Magu’s ordeal started when Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, petitioned the president, levelling allegations of corruption and insubordination against him.

A panel led by Ayo Salami was subsequently instituted to probe the allegations levelled against Magu. A report on the investigation was submitted in November 2020.

TheCable had, on July 5, 2021 reported that Magu was being considered for promotion to the position of assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) despite the recommendation of the Salami-led panel which asked that he should be prosecuted.

On July 8, the Police Service Commission (PSC) removed Magu from the list of those to be promoted to the position of AIG.

Speaking on the development, Dingyadi said since the report was submitted to the president, no further communication has been sent to the ministry and the police force.

The minister said despite the suspension of Magu as acting EFCC chairman, he is still a police officer under the payroll of the federal government.

“The matter, like you said, is investigated. The man is still in the service; he is still in the force headquarters, and I don’t want to expatiate at this material time as to what is happening to the report of the committee,” he said.

“What I know is that the matter has been submitted to Mr President and as far as I know, no communication has yet been submitted to the ministry or police force on this matter.

“So we are waiting for the final outcome to be made public.

“Of course, he is still a police officer even though he is under suspension. So what you know is that he used to be the chairman of the EFCC, but he is no longer one.

“But that does not mean he is not within the payroll of the FG. He is still a civil servant, he is still a police officer so until the final decision is taken on the matter. I don’t think I should say more than what I have said on this matter.”