Presidential panel grills ‘Magu Boys’, EFCC directors

Presidential panel grills ‘Magu Boys’, EFCC directors

The presidential panel probing the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday grilled the ‘Magu Boys’ — a group of

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The presidential panel probing the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday grilled the ‘Magu Boys’ — a group of operatives believed to be favoured by Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of the anti-graft agency.

The operatives have been accused of committing several atrocities — including blackmailing and extorting suspects, appropriating exhibits to themselves and selling off forfeited or seized assets without remitting the proceeds to government coffers.

These are some of the allegations listed in the memo sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, who asked the president to remove Magu from office.

Magu was arrested on Monday by a combined team of officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) after failing to honour two invitations from the panel, headed by Ayo Salami, former president of the court of appeal.

Some of the ‘Magu Boys’ who appeared before the panel, are Bashir Abdullahi, Ishiaku Sharo, Bala Silas Sanga, Abubakar Madaki and Ibrahim Ahmed.

Also, the secretary of the commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, and some directors were invited by the presidential panel to answer questions on the operations of the agency.

Magu who is facing 21 corruption allegations is being represented by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, a former attorney general of the Federation (AGF) and minister of Justice, who incidentally set up the EFCC during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.