By Taiwo Adeyemi
Ibrahim Magu, suspended Chairman of the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC rattled the whole country when holding sway as the nation’s anti-corruption Czar, he led to court as sheep for slaughter few former Governors, they were made as sacrifice and scapegoat to serve as deterrent to others not to deep their hands into public coffers for personal enrichment. Joshua Dariye, Joyle Nyame were to spend years behind bars, Orji Uzor Kalu was rescued from the slaughter slab because of judicial laxity. He would have lost his senate seat to imprisonment.

Magu’s name shook the world of cybercrime, he went after internet fraudsters like a lion running after its prey, when the prey hid under the earth, Magu dogged to bring it on earth for justice. Fear of Magu and his boys is the beginning of wisdom for them, he shocked us when he made revelation that “yahoo Boys’ Parents’ have an association”. Our mouth was ajar, our heart trembled. He was dreadful Efunsetan Aniwura of the Old Oyo Empire in the cybercrime world, he made connection far and beyond on his quest to preserve Nigeria’s soul from Coronavirus of corruption that is infectious.

He got to office after many subterranean plots to stop his appointment, Department of State Service, DSS damning letters to the Eighth Senate stopped his confirmation after nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, the DSS claimed Magu lacked character to lead anti-graft war, his hands were not clean, he has been indicted by the Police Service Commission, PSC for actions that threatened national security. The Senate rejected him, reactions from all quarters trailed his rejection. Human Right Activist, Femi Falana schooled the Presidency that Magu did not need senate confirmation to become substantive chairman of the EFCC. Many forces wanted him out of office but Buhari was his wall of Gibraltar, he shielded him from his enemies. He wanted him to be his anti-corruption Tsar, Buhari preferred to retain him in office but Magu most live with “Acting” as part of his nomenclature in office.

Magu in his strides to rescue Nigeria’s soul from corruption, beamed his searchlight on nooks and crannies of the nation, present and past Public Officers were careful about their activities. He was assisted by now comatose whistle blower policy and ever effective Bank Verification Number. We saw money at the Airport, Ikoyigate came to our attention, Kaduna abandoned house produced stashed fund, many properties that were secured through illicit funds were recovered. Everybody hailed Magu for a job well done, national ovation for the man at the helm of affairs at the EFCC. Every Citizen screamed Alas!!! Money, money and money everywhere.

Magu stepped on toes, he crossed redlines set by powerful personalities, he attracted wrath of government agencies. He attacked the judiciary, the DSS, the National Intelligent Agency, NIA suffered assault from him, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice was side tracked in his operations. Some of them wanted a pound of flesh from him according to Shakespeare in “Merchant of Venice”. They all waited for the right time to attack him, they were salivating for his flesh, and his blood will be a distilled water to their thirsty souls.
Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation activated the assault against him, one of the walls around him that preserved him in office against Senate’s rejection. Malami fell on him, Magu thought he has muster enough stamina to withstand Malami’s assault but Malami has upper hand over him. Malami in a memo to President Buhari that was leaked to the media recommended that Magu should be sacked as EFCC Chairman. Buhari was helpless, his inaction will cast aspersion on his image. It will be another dint on his anti-corruption white linen, which his political opponents will feast on like Vultures.

In Malami’s world, Magu is another Nuhu Ribhadu that sidelined office of the AGF who is the National Legal Adviser in his operations. Magu must be caged to prevent further insubordination. Contractions in recovered loots, failure to extradite Former Petroleum Minister, Alison Madueke to Nigeria to face corruption allegation levelled against her by the Commission were part of Malami’s allegation against Magu.
Magu played significant role in his downfall, he wanted to be in the media. He wanted media to capture his achievements. Magu will rush to the media when he has not concluded investigation, his activities were called media trial of suspects. He told the world that Former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke must come back home to eat his own share of justice in his alleged role in popular Malabu Scam, Adoke was extradited from Dubai to Nigeria, Magu’s agency appeared again in court to get another fourteen days to keep Adoke for further investigation.
President Buhari’s inaugurated a seven man panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami, a former President of the Appeal Court in what Presidency termed “no man is above scrutiny”. Magu was served summon in traffic, he has no time no prepare for defence. DSS disassociated itself from news that it arrested Magu, a move to exonerate itself from Magu’s fall. He was drilled for hours by the panel but he was at the mercy of his lawyer to help him.

Salami’s Panel recommended his suspension which president Buhari has assented to, this is the end of another anti-corruption Tsar, he was disgraced out of office by forces powerful than him. Magu has suffered fate that befell previous occupants of the office. Nuhu Ribhadu, Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde and now Ibrahim Magu. The list is increasing in every political dispensation.

Farewell, Ibrahim Magu.