7 reasons Senate may have rejected Magu as EFCC chairman

The Nigerian Senate refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, December 15.

After spending over an hour behind closed doors discussing Magu’s confirmation, the Senate said his nomination could not be confirmed because of security report.

“The nomination of Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action,” the Senate’s spokesperson Aliyu Abdullahi said.

Some Nigerians are of the opinion that the Senate rejected Magu’s confirmation for reasons other than security report.

What other reasons could there be?

1. Supremacy battle between EFCC and DSS

Rumour has it that Magu was not confirmed because of ‘damning’ DSS report.

The rivalry between the EFCC and DSS came to the fore when the latter raided the houses of some judges on October 8. Reacting to the raid, Magu had said the DSS had no business raiding and arresting judges. According to him, the allegations against the judges had to do with financial crimes, which was the responsibility of the anti-graft agency. He added that corruption does not constitute a threat to national security. If not for the rivalry, the DSS may have involved the anti-graft agency in the investigation into corruption allegations against the judges.

2. Strained relationship with the Ministry of Justice

It appears the two government bodies do not have a very cordial collaborative relationship. This was reportedly caused by the inability of the EFCC to speedily investigate some of the cases forwarded to it by the ministry. The commission was said to have failed to have acted on previous petitions sent to it as expected. It was because of this rivalry that the Ministry of Justice bypassed the commission to forward petitions against judges bordering on alleged corrupt acts to the DSS.

3. Saraki's wife investigation

In July 2015, the EFCC moved against Toyin Saraki, the wife of Nigeria’s embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki. She was invited for questioning to explain the inflow of funds into companies where she had interests when her husband was the governor of Kwara state.

Some senators were not happy with this move, especially those belonging to the group called ‘Like Minds’. They wondered if her invitation was politically motivated. Magu could have been rejected for this reason.

4. Corruption fighting back

Someone said confirming Magu was like a witch accepting to be a roommate to prayer warrior. Since Buhari came on board and appointed Magu, no fewer than 20 prominent Nigerians have been arrested and detained. Those who thought they were untouchable are now scared because they do not know who the commission is coming after next. The war against corruption has been very intense. Could it be that the senators are scared of being the next to land in EFCC net?

5. Jonathan’s camp holding a grudge

Friends and supporters of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan are not happy that the anti-graft agency has been harassing the former first family. Presently, Patience Jonathan, the former first lady is under the radar of the anti-graft agency for financial-corruption allegation. Her personal account which is domiciled in Skye Bank Plc has been frozen by the EFCC. The commission has been accused several times of with-hunting the former first family.

6. Buhari watchdog who is only answerable to Buhari

Buhari is committed to fighting corruption and Magu has been helping him do that. The rejection of his nomination is a big blow on the authority of the presidency. May be the senators are not comfortable with the fact that Magu is answerable only to Buhari. Now, some are beginning to say that Aisha was right when she said a powerful cabal was in charge.

7. EFCC chairmen jinx

Since its establishment in 2003, no EFCC chairman has had it easy. From Nuhu Ribadu to Farida Mzamber Waziri to Ibrahim Lamorde, it has not been easy for any of them. Now Magu is suffering same fate.

Magu was appointed as the acting chairman of the EFCC by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 9, 2015. His appointment followed the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde.

In July, the presidency wrote the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of Magu as EFCC boss.

Nigerians are eager to know the details of the security report which prevented the Senate from confirming Magu.