The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday said its officials did not arrest the acting Chairman of the conomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The DSS said this in a terse statement by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that it did not arrest Ibrahim MAGU, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as has been reported by sections of the media. The Service, has since, today, 6th July, 2020, been inundated with enquiries over the alleged arrest,” the statement said.
According to reports, Magu was stopped in traffic while moving out of the Wuse II Annex of the EFCC in Abuja and the invitation was extended to him.
Although Magu was on his way to the Force Headquarters, he pleaded with an officer from FCID who met with him to honour the scheduled appointment.
A source clarified: “Both Magu and Jacobs are now in an office in the Banquet Wing of the Vila.
“He has not been arrested by any of the security agencies. We are awaiting further development. ”
The media earlier today had it that Magu has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
He was said to have been arrested over allegations that he owns four properties and that he was allegedly transferring funds abroad through a third party.
According to SaharaReporters, he was arrested at the Wuse II office of the DSS on Monday afternoon and is now undergoing interrogation at the DSS Headquarters In Aso Drive.
“The DSS in a 2016 report revealed that he was accused of living in a N40m mansion paid for by one Umar Mohammed, a retired air commodore who is allegedly involved in shady deals,” SaharaReporters had said.
“In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.
“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.
“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.
“Investigations show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.
“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns,” the DSS report said.
Magu is yet to be confirmed as the substantive chairman of the EFCC despite occupying the position in acting capacity for many years.