Saraki: What Magu Did After 8th Assembly Rejected Him As EFCC Chairman

Former president of the senate, Bukola Saraki, has disclosed how suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, reacted to his rejection by the upper legislative chamber.

Saraki said the embattled EFCC helmsman did not take his rejection in good faith and he became embittered afterwards.

Saraki disclosed this while reaction to a court order on Thursday directing the federal government to return his houses in Kwara state to him.

Speaking after the court verdict, Saraki said Magu took the refusal of the assembly he led to confirm him ‘personally’

The court had granted an interim order of forfeiture following an application by the EFCC.

The eighth senate led by Saraki rejected the nomination of Magu twice citing security report by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The former acting chairman is being investigated for  by the alleged corruption and malfeasance in the anti-graft agency.

In a statement, Saraki insisted that the decision of the senate under his leadership to decline the confirmation of Magu as the substantive chairman of EFCC “followed due process”.

Saraki expressed delight at the judgememt of the Lagos federal high court which struck out the application by the EFCC for forfeiture order of his Ilorin property.

“Today, as always, I thank Almighty Allah as I welcome the judgement of the Federal High Court, Lagos, by the Honorable Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa in which the court dismissed in its totality the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a forfeiture order on my home in Ilorin, Kwara state,” he said.

“I am particularly happy that the court specifically ruled that there was no evidence that the property was built with any illicit or stolen funds from the Kwara state government or any other institution or quarter, whatsoever.

“The last five years have been very challenging for me and my family. I have endured and defeated one false allegation and malicious litigation after another, in an ill-motivated persecution, intimidation and harassment, through which some vested interests sought to damage my name and label me with charges of corruption but with the grace of Allah, I have always been victorious.

“I thank God for the outcome of this case which is the fifth victory in cases in which the EFCC was either the main investigating agency or the plaintiff.

Also Read: Court Orders EFCC To Return Houses Siezed From Saraki

“It is obvious that the EFCC leadership under its erstwhile acting chair, Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu decided to take the issue of his non-confirmation by the 8th Senate which I led, personally.

“However, I know that the Senate under my leadership only followed the due and normal procedure during the confirmation process and we never executed any personal agenda against Magu. The records of the Senate during the period are there for the perusal of all Nigerians interested in the truth.”

The former Kwara governor said the EFCC used the mass and social media to tarnish his image.

“It was directed at giving the wrong impression about me. As I record yet another vindication by the competent court of law, God’s willing, my focus will now shift to more serious issues,” he said.

“It is important to put it on record that I hold no grudge against any individual for their roles in my trials.

“My experience in the last five years has only strengthened my faith in Almighty Allah, the Nigerian nation and her judiciary which has always risen above the din to give justice at all times and in all situations.”