Nigeria’s on Wednesday woke up to the news of an alleged attack on the residence of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, where a policeman was said to have been killed.
But while the report of the attack is true, the report that it took place at the house of the anti-graft boss is false. The attack allegedly took place at a farm house in Karshi, a newly acquired property outside the Federal Capital Territory, where Magu does not reside.
Magu’s known residence is a luxurious apartment situated in Maitama District and another one in Karu, both in the FCT. The Maitama mansion was allegedly furnished for him by retired Air Commodore Umar Mohammed, who has been in DSS custody over some shady deals with Magu.
While reports attributed the attack on the farmhouse to unknown gunmen, sources in the know said the attack was an exchange of gunfire between operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
The source said operatives of the DSS had stormed the farm house allegedly on the suspicion that the EFCC boss is using the location to hide his loot. On approaching the place, the policemen drafted by Magu to guard the place opened fire on the DSS operatives and the operatives returned the fire resulted to exchanges that led to the death of a Police Sergeant who was hit in the process.
The source added that the cover up of the true story of the attack is an attempt by the EFCC boss to present a false narrative that he is under attack because of his refusal to bow to pressure from some high-profile suspects and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
“All what Magu is trying to do is to continue to play on the sensibilities of Nigerians that he is a subject of attack because of his fight against corruption whereas he is one of those that should be tried for corruption.” the source said.
He said the claim by Magu that some suspected elements had been prowling his family house in Maiduguri and issuing threat to his mother is not true.
Mr. Magu has remained controversial since the rejection of his confirmation as the substantive chairman of the EFCC by the Nigerian Senate over an indicting report by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
The DSS had in a report exposed Mr Magu as a liability to the corruption fight.
In the 16-paragraph letter, the secret police stated that the “corrupt” Borno police officer had “failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”
Consequently, Mr Magu’s nomination as fourth chairman of the EFCC was rejected by the Senate on March 15.
Prior to his rejection by the Nigerian Senate, several report exposing the shady deals of the anti-graft agency boss had been chronicled. One of such report led to the arrest of blogger, Abubakar Sidiq Usman for what was later termed “Cyber Stalking.”
Source: abusidiqu.com
