OpinionOPINION: CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES

OPINION: CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES

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I represent a group of Abuja based non-partisan private sector professionals, that have sacrificed our time, energy and resources to campaign vigorously for the APC and its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari based on our convictions and believe that Nigeria under the PDP led administration of Goodluck Jonathan, was heading to destruction. We have contributed in no small measures to make the “peoples revolution a success.”

In the last one year, we are quite proud of the modest achievements recorded by Buhari led administration, we continue to beat our chest that the General has indeed not let us down, especially in the two most important sectors to any nation namely: securing the lives & property of Nigerians and the unprecedented war on graft, corruption and impunity.

Lately, we became very concerned over the dangerous development of the involvement of Rtd Air Comm. Umar Muhammad with this government and the level of access and influence he seems to enjoy; our fear is more profound considering that individuals with similar antecedents had in the past misled and destroyed previous administrations despite their noble goals and intentions.

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Therefore, with the news of his arrest by the DSS, our joy knew no bounds. God is indeed with our President, we will continue to observe developments and pray for our President and our nation.

However, we wish to draw attention to some very disturbing developments coming out of that investigation which calls for serious concern as they have the capacity to destroy all that has been built in the fight against corruption by our President. These developments have to do with the role of the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu which he needs convincing explanation. The issues are:

That Ibrahim Magu is currently occupying a residence located at No. 11 Rudolf Close, off Katsina Ala Crescent, in highbrow Maitama Area in Abuja. The property belonged to the late information minister, Dr. Dora Akunyili and was rented to the EFCC Chairman for N40,000,000 at N20,000,000 per annum and was paid for by the said Mohammed. Furthermore, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) curiously award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by Mohammed to furnish the residence at the cost N43,000,000, in a Government where the President is known to have frowned at and rebuked his ministers for requesting N20,000,000 each to secure accommodation and furnish them. Its shocking that the man spearheading the anti-corruption crusade of the government will be involved in such a venture. More surprising is the involvement of FCDA in renting a house for EFCC and under what arrangement?

The Ag. EFCC Chairman has been travelling supposedly in pursuant of his duties of tracking and retrieving stolen funds as well as apprehending suspects and generally promoting the anti-corruption mission of Mr. President. Unfortunately, he has been embarking on all these trips with the private aircraft owned by Mohammad (EasyJet), we do not know whether the EFCC has the approval of the President to incur such huge expenditure on the EFCC Chairman trip or otherwise what benefits does Air. Comm. Muhammad enjoy that makes him avail his private jet for these trips?

Furthermore, on one of such trips, Mr. Magu flew to Maiduguri along with Mohammed and the MD of Fidelity Bank Mr. Okonkwo. Mr Okonkwo is a suspect in the EFCC investigation of funds allegedly stolen by former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke. Instructively after that trip, Mr. Okwonkwo was given a letter of clearance by the EFCC and allowed to return to work as the MD of Fidelity Bank. He has neither been charged to court or any public statement made by the EFCC on the funds recovered from him. It appear that Rtd. Air Comm. Mohammed may have been instrumental in securing the clearance of the Fidelity Bank MD.

It was quite a jolt to many Nigerian passengers recently who flew with the EFCC boss in the first class cabin of The Emirates from Abuja to Saudi. This is despite a government order restricting ministers to fly Business Class. Who finance the trip for Magu, if it was not done by his office? This guy has guts!

The EFCC has investigated and is prosecuting Rtd Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Air Vice Marshal Umar, all former Chiefs of Air Staff. However Air Vice Marshal Amosun who was a central figure in the alleged crimes perpetrated by both men has never been charged to court and is walking free today. Could this be due to his closeness with Air Commodore Mohammed?

We are constrained to bring these issues to the public domain to alert the authorities and the general public of the lapses by the EFCC Chairman and his indiscretion. His actions while dramatic and headline grabbing are not well thought out and entirely altruistic. We are concerned that if he is not cautioned and brought to order, he will embarrass the President and tarnish the hard earned reputation of the EFCC. He will also embarrass the country at a time when the whole world has commended us for the efforts being made to tackle corruption. We are also concerned that Mr Magu has enlisted the services of Sahara Reporters – an internet based journal to blackmail and tarnish the image of his perceived enemies. For whatever reason, Sahara Reporters has become a willing tool for Mr. Magu to plant stories and make unsubstantiated claims against anyone who crosses his path. High-ranking government officials and his superiors are not left out.

We believe it will serve the interest of transparency and accountability for Mr. Magu to step aside until these weighty allegations against him and his relationship with Air Commodore Mohammed are thoroughly investigated by either the Department of State Services (DSS) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). This is the best way to preserve the integrity of the EFCC and the mission of the President.

No individual should be indispensable in the running of any organization. More efforts should be put in strengthening the institutions concerned. In the war against corruption and impunity, nobody or institution should be a sacred cow or above the laws of the land. Otherwise, we will not make any meaningful progress as a nation.

Written by Peter Dauda.

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