The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday refuted claims that it failed to sanction one of its investigators that was involved in a $20,000 bribe scandal in 2018.
It said that the staff was demoted, suspended for three months and transferred two years ago in accordance with administrative rules, as soon as the attempted extortion was discovered.
The anti-graft agency was reacting to a publication by an online medium that the concerned staff was left untouched because he was a favourite or ‘Godson’ of EFCC Acting-Chairman Ibrahim Magu.
It claimed that the makers of the claim, acting in the interest of defendants in a N350 million fraud case, resurrected the dead issue to blackmail the Commission.
The EFCC on January 29, 2019 arraigned publisher of The Interview magazine Azubuike Ishekwene, a company director Olalekan Abdul and Adeyinka Adewale, for conspiracy to forge, and forgery at an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
Abdul solely faces charges of forgery, use of false document, obtaining N350 million from Wema Bank Plc by false pretences and falsification of books and account documents.
The said publication was titled, ‘How EFCC Acting Chairman, Magu, ordered arrest of complainant to protect ‘godson’ caught for extortion during sting operation.’
It claimed that when the identity of the arrested EFCC officer was examined, “it turned out to be Dectective Auwal Umar – a ‘godson’ of the EFCC boss and an integral member of a special squad within the organisation known as ‘Magu Boys’.
“Rather than sanction stiff punishment for the erring officer, Magu went ahead to turn the entire case on its head by ordering the arrest of the complainants and leaving his ‘godson’ off the hook….
“Under Magu’s protection, the said Umar had been returned to his position in EFCC, thus confirming that he’s an official bribe-collector for his godfather and therefore above the law.”