Contrary to Reports, New Documents Prove SSS Never Lied Against Magu

Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu 

The ongoing brouhaha over the decision of the Senate to suspend the confirmation of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has left many people undecided as new documents emerge with different sides to the story.

However, there are evidence to prove that Department of State Security Service did not fabricate its security report against the acting chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.


Exclusive documents obtained by Daily Nigerian suggest that the SSS did its job well and did not fabricate any story. The documents showed how ex-Air Force officer Mohammed Umar through his company, Africa Energy SA Nigeria was deeply involved in Mr. Magu’s private and official life since his appointment as acting EFCC chairman.

Umar before his arrest was a close ally and loyalist, to President Buhari. He was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security Services in June 2016 after the President perused reports alleging that the retired Air Force officer ran a blackmailing and extortion cartel.

Those familiar with the matter said before moving against the retired officer, the Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura, met with Mr. Buhari where he tabled reports suggesting that the panel member had been busy using the name of the president and other top officials of the administration to intimidate, extort and blackmail individuals and businesses.

Also, Umar was a close ally of Magu.

Concerning the allegations of Umar's involvement in Magu's showy lifestyle, a credible sources at the EFCC revealed that Mr. Umar was actually the one who initially made the payment of the N40 million for rent of Rudulf House in the highbrow Maitama district of the FCT, but when Mr. Magu realised that the SSS was pokenosing into the matter, the FCDA was hurriedly involved to make a fresh payment and put the new documents into record.

“The documents were hurriedly changed to indicate that no payment was previously made but that by the FCDA,” said a source who pleaded anonymity. The source further revealed that it was illegal for Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, to pay for Mr. Magu’s rent as it was against federal government’s monitisation policy.

“Even at that, it is illegal for the FCDA to rent and furnish a house for even ministers let alone heads of government agencies. Even at the FCDA, there was violation of procurement process as Abuja Metropolitan Council officials even grumbled over the pressure mounted on them to perfect the process.

“The monitisation policy only excluded the president, the vice president, judicial officers of the superior court of record, police and members of the armed forces.

“If Magu is occupying the house as policeman, then it should be noted that no police officer of grade level 14 is entitled to a N20million per year rent. And if he is occupying the house by virtue of his position as acting EFCC chairman, then there is violation of monitisation policy,” a source familiar with the transaction file said.

Also, Africa Energy SA Nigeria is also believed to have paid for the domestic staff and services at Mr. Magu’s house by Africa Energy SA Nigeria, a company owned by Mr. Umar, the retired air commodore had allegedly “donated” money to Mr. Magu in hard currencies.

Magu is also said to have used Umar’s private jet on a number of occasions. He is also accused of staying at Mr. Umar’s palatial Iyaka Road mansion whenever he (Magu) traveled to Kano.

The report further revealed how early this year, when Mr. Magu lost one of his relations, Mr. Umar traveled alongside his in-law (named Hamisu) in one of his private jets to the city of Maiduguri to condole with the EFCC boss.

It was also gathered that Magu flew not once, but on several occasions in Mr. Umar’s Challenger 604 and 605 jets to Lagos, Kano and Maiduguri. On one occasion, Magu and Umar are said to have travelled with a bank chief investigated by the commission confirmed to be the managing director of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo.

Mr. Okonkwo, who was twice arrested and detained for about a week by the EFCC for allegedly helping a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to launder $153million, was never prosecuted by the commission.

It was also confirmed that Magu against the directive of the President travelled on a first class ticket to Saudi Arabia which allegedly cost nearly N3million.