The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the duo of acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Ibrahim Magu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal, arrested and prosecuted over alleged fraud.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police should jointly move in and arrest the duo whose extensively damaging indictments would totally rubbish the kernel of President Muhammadu Buhari’s fundamental policy direction of anti-corruption crusade if these damning allegations are swept under the carpets and they remain as untouchable members of the ruling cabal,” said HURIWA.

In a statement jointly issued by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Director of Media, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said: “We agree with the far reaching decision of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the security report, upon which it based its rejection of the nomination for confirmation of acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu demobstrates that the nominee’s much talked about integrity to head EFCC is now questionable and he must be arrested and prosecuted forthwith given the groundswell of allegations of corruption already amassed by the DSS.”

HURIWA recalled that the DSS report was signed by Folashade Bello on behalf of the Director-General, Lawal Daura and was dated October 3, 2016 and addressed to the clerk to the Senate.

The report said Magu failed their integrity test and would eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration if confirmed.

Among the accusations are that Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40 million at N20 million per annum.

“This accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s finances but by one Umar Mohammed, a retired Air Commodore, a questionable businessman and ally of the subject who has subsequently been arrested by this service.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Mohammed enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by him to lavishly furnish the residence at the cost of N43 million,” it stated.

The service said investigations have revealed that Magu regularly embarks on official and private trips through a private carrier, Easyjet, owned by Mohammed.

“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed and the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo who was being investigated by the Commission over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke,” the DSS said.

“On 24th June, 2016, he flew Emirate Airlines first class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9 million. This is in spite of Mr. President’s directive to public servants.”

HURIWA recalled too that the Senate had called for the SGF’s sack following presentation of an interim report of the ad-hoc committee on mounting humanitarian crisis in the North-east chaired by Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna).

The committee was constituted by the Senate to investigate the N1.3billion contracts allegedly awarded by PINE under the supervision of the SGF in October.

Specifically, the Senate said the SGF should resign and accordingly be prosecuted by relevant agencies. HURIWA said both men must be arrested and prosecuted forthwith.

•SGF Babachir Lawal.

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