In the wake of the release of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, over allegation of corruption and insubordination, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for his immediate arraignment in court for prosecution according to the dictates of the law.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Thursday, said there should be no delay in arraigning Magu since allegations and revelations have been unearthed by the Presidential Panel are already in public domain.
The statement said in part, “Our party holds that where there are no undesirable underhand dealings, any government that is committed to the fight against corruption, in such a manner that the Buhari Presidency wants the world to believe it does, should have since perfected its processes and arraign the suspended EFCC acting Chairman in court, particularly with the weight of allegations and revelations unearthed at the Presidential panel.
“The fact is that the allegations of fraud, including alleged stealing of billions of naira recovered by the EFCC among other accusations, which also include alleged transfer of stolen money to certain government officials, are already in the public domain.
“The expectation of Nigerians therefore is for the Federal Government to immediately arraign Magu before a court of competent jurisdiction and prosecute him in line with the dictates of our laws.”
The party accused the government of deliberate delay in prosecuting Magu in order to give him soft landing so as to cover up for certain top officials of the administration as well as some leaders alleged to have been indicted by the suspended EFCC chairman, in the course of his investigation by the Presidential Panel.
The PDP further stated that Nigerians are apprehensive that the EFCC investigation might go the way of the huge cover up in the handling of cases of alleged unbridled treasury looting in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among others were indicted officials were given a pat on the wrist without prosecution.
“Our party charges the Buhari Presidency to note that the world is watching the handling of the EFCC fraud case with keen interest. The Federal Government should therefore take immediate steps to arraign Magu and all those indicted in the matter before a court of competent jurisdiction without any further delay.”
