Northern group demands whereabouts of assets recovered by EFCC under Magu

The joint northern action front has called for an end to the ”persecution” of Ibrahim Magu, former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In July 2020, Magu was arrested and probed over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of power. He was later suspended by the president.

A panel headed by Ayo Salami, a retired judge, probed the allegations against Magu and recommended his sacking.

In its report submitted on November 20, the panel asked the president to appoint a new EFCC chairman.

In February, Abdulrasheed Bawa was appointed as the substantive chairman of the commission.

In a statement on Tuesday, Aminu Musa, national coordinator of the group, said the “unrelenting persecution, intimidation, harassment and embarrassment schemed by certain powerful interests in the presidency against the former EFCC chairman, breaches laid down administrative processes on discipline”.

The group also tackled the Police Service Commission (PSC) for failing to promote Magu to the position of assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) in its recent promotion exercise.

The group demanded an investigation into Magu’s probe as well as a detailed “explanation of the whereabouts of the funds and properties recovered and left behind by Magu”.

“This must include but certainly not limited to: the recovered N794 billion, $261 million (about N77.8 billion), £1.1 million, 8,168, 871. 13 Euros, 86,500 CFA,” the statement read.

“Hundreds of properties such as filling stations, petroleum products, land, jewellery, automobiles, real estate, vessels, hospitals, company shares and heavy machinery and broadcast equipment seized from corrupt elements.

“The 407 mansions that were seized, 126 that has been forfeited, 281 under interim forfeiture and nine filling stations also seized and placed under interim forfeiture.

“The 98 plots of land seized of which 56 are under interim forfeiture, and 42 forfeited finally to the federal government.

”The 259 automobiles seized with 35 under interim forfeiture and 224 forfeited.

”The hospitals, e.g. the forfeited St. Solomon Health Care Centre Lagos, 1500 metric tonnes of AGO and 3,035 metric tonnes of LPFO.”