Magu Blames Politicians For Nigeria’s Suspension From Egmont Group

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has alleged that politicians were behind the suspension of the country from the Egmont Group, insisting that it was a case of “corruption fighting back”.

He stated this on Wednesday when he received the Director-General of Inter-Governmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, Adama Coulibaly.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), had alleged that the “ignoble role” of the EFCC chairman led to the suspension of Nigeria from the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

In a statement issued last month by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, the AGF alleged that Magu had frustrated efforts to make the National Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, independent of the EFCC as required by the global financial intelligence body.

“It is a sad tale to tell how the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC has frustrated these efforts and even had to resort to blackmail in some instances oftentimes, alleging that the AGF and the ministry were all out to impede the government’s anti-corruption drive. Magu and other EFCC officials; and atimes through online publications; had at one time or the other accused the minister of trying to compromise the war.

“They have always perceived the Office of the AGF as a threat instead of addressing the issues related to the best strategy to fight corruption advocated by the AGF,” the statement read in part.

But in a statement issued by the EFCC Head of Media and Information, Wilson Uwujaren, it quoted Magu as saying that the suspension of the NFIU from the Egmont Group was based on “misinformation,” by those who are hell-bent on making the EFCC handicap.

“Politicians are behind the NFIU crisis, because they want to destroy the achievements recorded by the EFCC,” he said.

Uwujaren’s statement read in part: “The frantic move by the Legislature to take the NFIU out of the EFCC was suspicious, and borne out of an ulterior motive.

“There is a complete misunderstanding about the workings of the NFIU, and it is surprising that the new bill by the legislators pushing for removal of the NFIU from the EFCC was passed in seven days,” he said, adding that it was “a practice that has never happened in any part of the world.”

Magu insisted that the EFCC was not at loggerheads with the NFIU.

“I have confidence in the management of the NFIU and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, and the relationship is very cordial and professional,” he said, adding that the commission was “very much in support of the NFIU’s autonomy.”

In his remark, Coulibaly pledged support for the efforts of the EFCC and the Nigerian government to ensure the lifting of the suspension in the NFIU from the Egmont Group in the shortest time possible.

While commending the anti-graft commission for championing the crusade against corruption in Nigeria, he stated that the agency’s achievements were not only for the country, but for the African continent.