The Senate has withheld the confirmation Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The rejection came at Wednesday’s screening at the Red Chambers.
It was gathered that the Senate President received a letter from the DSS Tuesday night where the Secret service maintained its earlier position that indicted Magu.
This comes a few weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari asked the senate to reconsider its decision to reject Magu as EFCC chairman.
Recall that on December 15, 2016, the senate rejected the appointment of Magu as EFCC chairman, citing a security report from the department of state services (DSS).
In the report, Magu was accused of living in a house paid for by a “corrupt” businessman. He was also accused of extorting money — through a proxy — from suspects.
The President directed Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, to investigate the allegations. Malami submitted his report at the end of the assignment but details of the investigation were not revealed in the President’s letter back to the senate requesting that Magu’s appointment be reconsidered.
Fielding questions during screening on Wednesday, Magu explained that he only stayed in the questionable house allegedly bought for him because of its close proximity to work and to avoid late night movement.
Asked to comment on the DSS report against him, Magu said he did not come with the report, and so could not comment.
On how much has so far been recovered in the ongoing war against corruption, Magu said it is difficult to give report on the amount recovered.
