* Says ex-EFCC boss still a serving police officer on FG’s payroll
*FG yet to release White Paper on Salami probe panel 10 months after
About 10 months after the Justice Ayo Salami- led judicial panel of inquiry set up to probe former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Nigeria Police Force are yet to receive any communication on the matter.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, stated this on Tuesday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’.
The current affairs programme of the TV station was monitored by our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday night.
Theideal recalls that the former EFCC boss was probed for over three months by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami-led panel while the report was submitted to the President on November 20, 2021.
But speaking on the matter during the television programme, Dingyadi stated that Magu, a Commissioner of Police (CP), is still a police officer despite his suspension as the acting chairman of the EFCC.
He added that Magu is still on the Federal Government’s payroll as a senior police officer.
There were insinuations in certain quarters that Magu was ousted as EFCC boss by some powerful forces who were not comfortable with his anti-corruption campaign.
Giving an update on Magu’s status, Dingyadi said, “The matter is investigated and the man is still in the service, he is still in the Force Headquarters, I don’t want to expatiate at this material time as to what is happening to the report of the committee.
“What I know is that the report has been submitted to Mr President and as far as I know, no communication has yet to be submitted to the ministry or the police force on this matter.
“So, we are waiting for the final outcome and the public will be informed as and when the need arises.”
“Of course, he is still a police officer even though he is under suspension. He used to be the chairman of the EFCC but he is no longer one.
“But that does not mean he is not on the payroll of the Federal Government; he is still a civil servant, he is still a police officer until a final decision is taken on the matter, I don’t think I should say anything more than I have said on this matter now.”
Theideal recalls that the Senate refused to confirm Magu on two separate occasions when he appeared before it for confirmation hearing.
Magu served as the acting chairman of the EFCC between 2015 and 2020.
The former EFCC boss was later suspended in July 2020 for alleged mismanagement of funds, abuse of office and insubordination.
But Magu has vehemently denied the allegations, saying that he served without any blemish.
Buhari later in February 2021 appointed Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new EFCC chairman to replace Magu.
The Salami panel was said to have made several recommendations but the White Paper arising from the report has not been made public, about 10 months after it was submitted to Buhari.
Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has declined to promote Magu from his present rank of CP to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
The PSC had in July 2021, approved the promotion of 24 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs).
On why it declined to promote Magu to AIG alongside his deserving colleagues, the PSC in a statement by its Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said, “The PSC declined the promotion of CP Magu pending clearance from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General of Police.”
Theideal reports that in a similar fashion, the Federal Government is yet to make public its White Paper on its presidential visitation panel to the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Our correspondent further gathered that the report of the panel, which was leaked to the media, reportedly cleared the Dr. Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council of alleged non-adherence to due process in the removal of Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as vice-chancellor.
The visitation panel, which was set up on March 29, 2021, had since submitted its report to the Federal Government.
The panel was said to have absolved Babalakin -led Governing Council, indicted Ogundipe and reportedly stated that his removal as UNILAG Vice Chancellor was in order.
