By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Using the ongoing quizzing of the embattled acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, as a peg to hang his argument, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, said on Tuesday that the anti-corruption war under President Muhammadu Buhari was not independent of politics.
Magu, who as been grilled by a high-powered Presidential panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami since Monday over allegations of grand corruption, insubordination and abuse of office, was suspended on Tuesday.
The allegations were levelled against him by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in a recent memo to President Muhammadu Buhari.
But reacting to the development on Tuesday via his twitter handle, Moghalu, a presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election, said: “News of the suspension of EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu by President Buhari, and all the “factional” controversy surrounding him since his appointment, goes far beyond Magu. Our “fight” against corruption in Nigeria has been more of politics and power play.”
While suggesting that politics may be the reason why concrete measures have not been implemented in tackling corruption, Moghalu, however, maintained neutrality on the allegations against Magu.
“I take no position on whether or not Magu is guilty as alleged or not. But I think all the controversies indicate that control of @officialEFCC is a “prize” that is being contested by powerful interests. This may be why we have not taken the real, PREVENTIVE measures necessary to combat corruption effectively. Rather we rely only on reactive and often partial accountability in which some people’s corruption is “untouchable” while those of some others are mortal sin.,” Moghalu tweeted.
“The whole EFCC framework needs review. The law that set it up says it’s Chair has to be a police officer. This is an archaic concept, and should be amended to broaden the qualifications needed. Why not a retired judge, intelligence official or a legal practitioner with integrity?” Moghalu, who delivered 2018 edition of TheNiche Annual Lecture, queried.
