The suspension of Mr Ibrahim Magu as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked succession controversy, with CP Bala Ciroma tipped to succeed Magu.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Magu was on Tuesday afternoon suspended from heading the anti-corruption agency, coming a day after he was grilled by an inter-agency presidential panel chaired by former Justice Ayo Salami.
The former EFCC acting chairman was alleged to have looted recovered loots and was also alleged to selling seized assets to associates, culminating to his suspension, with rumours emerging that Ciroma had succeeded him.
However, Mr Mohammed Umar, the Director of Operations in the EFCC was said to have been handpicked to oversee the affairs of the agency in the absence of Magu, according to a disclosure made by a top official of the Commission.
The top official, who asked not to be named, said Umar was chosen by the “EFCC’s hierarchy” following the reported suspension of Magu. The official, however, said that the Commission was yet to receive any official communication on the reported suspension.
He, however, defended Magu, saying the allegations against him were not true, the travails emanated from complaints by the staff of the Commission over poor welfare and delay in promotion.
“I can tell you that all the allegations against Magu are untrue. I see the whole situation as a power play. Preparations for the 2023 elections are another reason they want Magu out because he knows too much.
“Another thing is the problem of staff welfare. Imagine somebody like me for close to 10 years, I have not gained any promotion. We are not happy about the news of his suspension, but I know that members of staff are not happy with him,” the official told NAN.
Meanwhile, spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale declined comments when contacted to confirm the latest development.
