EFCC boss Magu, governors in face-off over Paris Club loan refund

The governors say Magu's EFCC is
carrying out an “unwarranted attack on
the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, its officials
and associated entities”
- Governors' Forum’s chairman Governor
Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara stormed the
presidential villa in protest after EFCC
blocked its bank account during
investigation
- Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has
reportedly promised to look into the matter
after Yari's protest even as the governors
have warned Magu to be careful with his
actions
- The EFCC says it has not indicted anybody
yet in the investigations which are still at
infant stage
These are hard times for Ibrahim Magu, the
acting chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he
has reportedly angered the 36 state governors
of Nigeria over his agency’s investigations on
the Paris club loan refund.
Premium Times reports that the governors
are so angry at Magu for his “unwarranted
attack on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, its
officials and associated entities” and have
threatened to deal with him.
This follows the EFCC’s investigation into the
governors’ handling of the Paric Club refund
they got from the federal government.
Recall that just some days back the EFCC
‘arrested’ Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF)
Director General Asishana Okauru over
accounting for some billions of naira.
Premium Times reports that the EFCC further
blocked an Access Bank account belonging to
the NGF, angering the Forum’s chairman
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, who
stormed the presidential villa in protest.
“The governor met Vice President Osinbajo
saying he has the mandate of his colleagues to
request him (the VP) to call Magu to order or
that the governor would do all they can to
defend their integrity and that of their states,”
one source said.
“The governor said should Magu continue to
harass the NGF, the 36 governors would strike
in a way never seen before.”
Yari was also quoted as telling Osinbajo that
Magu was harassing officials at the NGF
secretariat with ceaseless interrogations.

“We have done nothing wrong and we view
this onslaught on the NGF as a fishing
expedition designed to embarrass, humiliate
and insult the 36 governors for perceived or
imaginary wrongdoing,” the Zamfara governor
is quoted as saying.
“We urge urge you to call him to order or we
will fight back whichever way we can.”
“As a duly registered organisation, we, in the
course of our work engage consultants and
experts in areas where we do not have in-
house capacity and these consultants and
experts are paid for the services they render.
“The right to engage staff and other experts
and professionals to carry out work on behalf
of the governors is within the purview of the
NGF and we are hard put explaining the
current development.
“We fear that the harassment has gone on for
too long without any signs of abating and we
are urging you to call this man (Magu) to
order and desist from any further harassment
of our officials and consultants.”
The acting president was said to have
thanked Yari and pleaded with him and other
governors to be patient while the federal
government looked into the matter.
Okauru confirmed that Yari recently met
Osinbajo over the matter but could not give
details of what was said.
“I don’t know the details of their discussion,
but I am aware the two leaders met.

“I am also aware that the governors are very
angry with what appears a deliberate attempt
by the EFCC and its leadership to malign them
and to feed the media with misinformation ,”
Okauru, who also denied ever being arrested
by the EFCC, was quoted as saying.
Recall that the EFCC on Monday, February 13,
denied that it has found senate president
Bukola Saraki and a host of state governors
guilty of allegedly pocketing billions of naira
in Paris club loan refund.
The EFCC said in a statement that not only
was the story against Saraki and the
governors untrue, also false were allegations
that officials of the agency were trying to
cover up the indictments.