EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

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July 9, 2020

A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mohammed Umar, has been appointed as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The appointment of Umar by President Muhammadu Buhari comes after Ibrahim Magu, who is being investigated for alleged corruption, was suspended.

Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami had In his petition against Magu recommended to the President three candidates to replace the now suspended Acting Chairman, Umar’s choice as Acting Chairman is a deviation from that list.

Mohammed, who, until his appointment, was the Director of Operations at the anti-graft agency, resumed duties yesterday, Wednesday.

The presidential probe panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, is specifically looking into sundry documents and meeting with persons connected to the case at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Reports have it that access to the premises of where the probe panel is sitting was heavily guarded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Federal Government immediately begin prosecution of Magu.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, observed that the alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other forms of sleaze, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as the DSS report on Magu’s activities, further exposed the racket that the fight against corruption had become under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

It stated that Magu’s indictment reinforced its position that the hyped corruption war by the EFCC under Magu had been a huge scam.

Also, an arm of the party known as the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Alliance (PDPYA) called for immediate resignation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his involvement in the case. Magu, who is under probe on a 22-count charge of fraud, alleged that he gave N4 billion out of the N39 billion he recovered to Osinbajo.

In a release made available to newsmen yesterday, Kalu said the development was clear evidence that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had only been paying lip service to the corruption fight.

In the same vein, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has asked security agencies to tighten the noose around Magu, for him not to escape. Fayose yesterday called on the DSS, the police and other security agencies to place the suspect on the country’s watch list, so that he would not disappear into thin air.

This is just as the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) called on the panel to be thorough and fair in its investigation. According to the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), while it is unclear what the real issues are, “CISLAC is concerned about the conflicting signals it sends to Nigerians. Being that Magu heads a very sensitive position in a government agency tasked with the investigation of financial crimes, it is thus pertinent that the case be handled with all diligence and transparency to ensure that the gains in the fight against corruption are not lost in the battle for supremacy and political advantage.”

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I never requested N4b from Magu – VP Osinbajo refutes

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 9, 2020

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IMG_20200610_084843 — Nigeria's Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo refutes unsubstantiated claim by a serial fake news peddler linking him to a money deal with the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ibrahim Magi.

According to a statement on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media, Laolu Akande, the suspended boss of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Ibrahim Magu never gave N4 billion to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Akande said the reports that Osinbajo ordered Magu to give him the money from the recovered looted funds were “lies”.

“These are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the Probe Panel investigating Mr Ibrahim Magu.

“They are indeed completely absurd in every respect”, Akande Stated.

Magu is being questioned by a presidential panel for allegedly cornering properties recovered from corrupt officials.

The questioning comes after Nigeria’s attorney general in June sent a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari detailing a raft of allegations against Magu that were leaked to the press.

The attorney general accused the anti-graft head of selling off assets recovered during corruption investigations and of “insubordination”.

Critics said the moves aimed at getting rid of Magu and part of a tussle for control at the top of Nigeria’s notoriously opaque elite

However, the proponent of the allegation against Vice President Osinbajo, one Jackson Ude, is widely known to peddle fake news through his Pointblank platform.

Pointblanknews.com, owned by government critic Jackson Ude, claimed that Osinbajo ordered Magu to release the funds “very day the president left the country for the United Kingdom on medical treatment.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has travelled to the United Kingdom for medical care more than once.

The first medical trip to London, on June 6, 2016, which lasted for 10 days, was over an ear infection, while the second lasted 51 days for an undisclosed ailment. He was away for 104 days, from May 8, 2017, till August 19, 2017, for his third medical trip to the UK.

On September 21, he left from the US to the UK for the fourth medical trip and returned to Nigeria on September 25, 2017.

In his fifth medical trip to London, Buhari was from May 8, 2018, and he returned on May 11.

The report by Pointblank News did not say when Osinbajo supposedly gave the order.

“Such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians,” Akande said.

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Ondo Politics: Assembly suspends Deputy Speaker, one Other

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 8, 2020

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The Ondo State House of Assembly has suspended the Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, and another member, Adewale Williams.

The two lawmakers were suspended over an alleged unruly behaviour.

Meanwhile, the Majority Leader of the House, Jamiu Maito has resigned his appointment.

The resignation letter was read on the floor of the house on Wednesday by the Clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu.

The three lawmakers were part of the nine members of the House that are opposed to the impeachment notice served on the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi yesterday.

14 members of the House signed the impeachment notice served on the deputy governor, including the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyeloogun.

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Explosion kills seven employee at Benin River Valve Station – NNPC

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 8, 2020

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An explosion at Gbetiokun, OML 40 oil field operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), on behalf of the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture has killed seven people.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru who stated that the incident occurred on Tuesday during the process of installing a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production.

Obateru stated that investigation into the the unfortunate incident, which caused 7 fatalities has commenced. He added that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the Industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature.

The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers: Weld Affairs and Flow Impact, which are consultants to NPDC.

The Group’s spokesperson stated that all personnel on board the platform had been fully accounted for.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, in his condolence remark commiserated with the families of the bereaved, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their loved ones.

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Okoro, of Village Headmaster Passes on

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B.O.B Echoload

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July 8, 2020

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Veteran Nigerian actor, Mr. Jimmy Johnson, popularly known as “Okoro” is dead.

The deceased, aged 80, and very prominent in the then popular Nigerian TV comedy series, Village Headmaster died this morning at an Abuja hospital.

Details later…

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EFCC Chair: 3 likely candidates to take over as Magu’s travail persists

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 8, 2020

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As suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) gets busy with clearing his name of corruption allegation that bothers on disparities in recovered loots, selling of seized properties to cronies, and insurbordination to the Minister of Justice, three candidates are likely to take over his job.

While there are speculations that Magu already moved out of his official residence, talks about the replacement of a man who spearheaded the process of sending people found guilty of corruption to prison, and now facing the same charges himself have already begun.

Recall that the drumbeat of Magu’s removal began to sound when in June, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari the sacking of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

Malami didn’t stop at recommending Magu’s sack; he included a list of three candidates for consideration to replace Magu.

Abba kyari, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT)

Abba Kyari: He is a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) charged with combating kidnapping and other crimes. Nicknamed Nigeria’s Jack Bauer, Kyari was born on March 17, 1975 and joined the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano in year 2000. After his training at the Academy, he was posted to Adamawa State for a one year compulsory attachment.

Kyari is well known in Lagos where he once served as head of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos Police Command.

Muhammad Wakili, a former Police Commissioner in Kano State

Muhammad Wakili: He is a former Police Commissioner in Kano State who retired only last year. Before he left Kano, he bagged the nickname ‘Singham’, a name of a crime fighter in a bollywood movie.

Wakili, who studied Language and Linguistics at the University of Maiduguri and graduated in 1986, joined the Nigeria Police Force a year after he concluded the mandatory National Youth Service Corp programme.

After undergoing various trainings, Wakili was commissioned as Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1989 and worked at different commands across the country.

Wakili has a working experience at the EFCC during the tenure of former Chairman of the agency, Farida Waziri.

He is currently the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya.

Habu Sani, Commissioner of Police in kano State

Habu Sani: He is the present Commissioner of Police in kano State, popularly reffered to as ‘Kalamu Waheed’.

Sani, who was once served as Commissioner of Police in Bauchi state is regarded as a no nonsense man.

Sani was the hatchet man who executed the removal of former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido from the palace after the State Governor announced the emir’s sack. It was reported that his ability to conduct that mission and maintain peace after was hailed by many.

He was born into a royal family in Sokoto in 1964 and joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1992 after completing a degree in Geography Education at the Usman Danfodio University.

Like Abba Kyari, Sani has a rich experience in intelligence operation and has held various positions in the unit including Head of Technical Intelligence at the Police Headquarters and Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB).

Sani also served as United Nations training co-ordinator for a peace keeping mission in South Sudan from 2006-2007.

As the situation unfolds, Magu’s travails seem to persist, as the presidency’s handling of the investigation was described by a top presidential official as a bold statement that nobody under the Buhari administration is above the law.

On Tuesday, a combined team of riot policemen and operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) stormed the residence of Magu,

According Premium Times, a source close to the presidential panel set up to investigate Magu said operatives were detailed to conduct searches at Magu’s private home in Karu and his official residence in the Maitama District of the Nigerian capital.

Tobiloba Kolawole

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FG, Lagos Seek Motorists’ Cooperation Ahead of Six-month Partial Closure of Third Mainland Bridge for Repair from July 24

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B.O.B Echoload

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July 8, 2020

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Ahead of six-month partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge for maintenance work from July 24, the Federal Government and Lagos State Government have appealed to motorists and Lagosians to cooperate with government officials and appropriate agencies during this operation.

Speaking during a press conference jointly addressed by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola; Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde; and Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works, Aramide Adeyoye; on Tuesday at Alausa in Ikeja, these officials assured Lagosians that necessary measures would be put in place to reduce gridlocks during partial closure of the bridge.

To Popoola, there would be diversion of traffic in two phases during the partial closure of the bridge between July 24, 2020 and January 24, 2021.

He said the Phase One of the diversion, which would last for three months for repairs of the Oworonsoki bound lane of Third Mainland Bridge, would be for morning traffic from 12am to 1pm from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island on the Lagos Island bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1pm to 12am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Lagos Island bound lane.

The Federal Controller of Works added that the Phase Two of the diversion, which would last another three months for repairs of the Lagos Island bound lane of Third Mainland Bridge, would be for morning traffic from 12am to 1pm from Oworonsoki to Lagos Island on the Oworonsoki bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1pm to 12am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Oworonsoki bound lane.

Popoola, while speaking on the inconveniences the maintenance of the bridge might cause motorists, said the Federal Government and Lagos State Government would work with appropriate agencies for traffic control to direct and help traffic movement in the affected areas and alternative routes.

“Motorists are advised to also ply these alternative routes: First, from Carter Bridge through Iddo through Oyingbo to join Adekunle ramp inward Oworonsoki. Secondly, from Ijora Olopa through Western Avenue to Ikorodu Road,” he said.

On his part, Oladeinde said priority would be given to those driving from Mainland to the Island in morning and afternoon to use Third Mainland Bridge, while those driving against traffic would use the alternative routes.

The commissioner assured motorists that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would work with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in all the alternative routes to ensure that motorists have a smooth journey during the partial closure of the bridge.

Oladeinde, while stressing the need for reduction of vehicles on the road during the partial closure of the bridge, advised that those who don’t have any genuine reason to be on the road to stay at home.

He said there would be increase in number of public vehicles for people to leave their vehicles at home to make the road less congested, adding that the public vehicles would be available and affordable for road users.

According to him, “If you don’t have to travel, I will advise that you stay at home, so that we can minimise the number of vehicles on the road.

“If you can work at home, please do. But if you can’t, we will be on the road for you to get to your destination as quickly as possible.”

The commissioner also advised people to use alternative transport such as ferries, assuring that there would be increase in number of fleets by Lagos Ferry Services in the morning for people from Ikorodu and Mile 2 as alternative transportation.

Also speaking, Adeyoye appreciated the Federal Government for bringing the repair of Third Mainland Bridge on board.

She said Lagos State Government has commenced necessary preparatory works on all the alternative routes in the state to make them motorable for the commuters.

Adeyoye said the state would do its best within two weeks to work on all the roads that may likely cause gridlocks to be free of potholes.

She also warned trucks and vehicles that are not road worthy or serviceable to stay away from Lagos roads.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Public Works Recruitment: National Assembly desperate to get me out – Keyamo

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 7, 2020

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Festus-Keyamo-SAN-1 — Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, Tuesday accused the National Assembly of desperate bid to sweep him aside, regarding the recruitment process of 774,000 personnel for public works programme.

Narrating his ordeal at the National Assembly, Keyamo expressed shocks over the decision of the Senate President Ahmadu Lawan, authorising the Director-General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to proceed to submit a plan without the express approval of the minister.

The minister said: “Earlier today, I appeared again before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Labour and Employment. Before the Committee sat, we paid a courtesy call on the Senate Leadership where the Senate President announced that I, as supervising Minister of the NDE, should hands off the preparation and execution of the Programme. He further directed the DG, NDE to bring his plans for the execution of the program directly to the National Assembly on Monday, July 13, 2020, for scrutiny and approval. The Joint Committee also took a similar position and adjourned.

“With the utmost humility, I regret to say these directives are against the provisions of the NDE Act made by the National Assembly itself and the Constitutional provisions on Separation of Powers.

“By virtue of Section 3 (2)of the NDE Act, as supervising Minister, I am the Chairman of the Board of NDE that superintendents and gives directions to the Management of the NDE.

“That by virtue of section 15 of the NDE Act, I am also authorized, as supervising Minister, to give general directives to the Board and Management, with which they must comply.

“By virtue of Section 16 (1) of the NDE Act, the supervising Minister has the sole prerogative to constitute Committees for the Agency.

“In addition to the above, Section 6(2) of the National Directorate of Employment Act states that, ‘The Director-General shall, subject to this Act, be the Chief Executive of the Directorate and shall be responsible to the Minister for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Directorate.’

”By a memo Ref: CAO.143/S.1/T11/8 dated October 18, 2019, and forwarded to all Government functionaries by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I was mandated by Mr. President to oversee all the activities of the National Directorate of Employment.

”In addition to the above, by a letter, Ref: SH/COS/14/A/1217 dated 6 May, 2020, Mr. President, once again, approved that I supervise the preparation and execution of the Special Public Works Programme domiciled under the NDE.”

Keyamo added: “However, today, the National Assembly swept aside all these provisions of the law and Presidential directives and authorized the DG of NDE to proceed to submit a plan without the express approval of the Minister. This was done in a desperate bid to get me out of the way at all cost.

“My involvement in this process so far is to constitute multi-sectoral Committees at State levels to ensure a grassroots selection process. This was done after an inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the DG NDE made such a recommendation which I accepted. As stated above, I am authorised to do so by virtue of Section 16 (1) of the NDE Act. As a result all the sponsored allegations and attacks in relation to my role so far are nothing but cheap blackmail. My actions are backed by law.

“In the circumstances of the above, I regret to say I am not bound by such a patently illegal and unconstitutional resolution by the National Assembly and I am only bound by the provisions of the law and the Constitution that all public officers swore on oath to uphold.”

Idowu Sowunmi

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Updated: Ondo Assembly divides over impeachment, Deputy Governor goes to court

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 7, 2020

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Ondok deputy governor — Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi

Members of Ondo State House of Assembly have sharply divided over the process of removing the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who recently decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nine Assembly members opted out of the plot to impeach the deputy governor, while 17 members wanted Ajayi out.

Ondo State House of Assembly has 26 members, 18 lawmakers are needed to impeach either the governor or deputy governor.

The legislators are currently deliberating on the allegations of gross misconduct against Ajayi.

Scores of armed policemen and the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were present at the Assembly complex to maintain the law and order.

Meanwhile, as struggles to remain in office, Deputy Governor Agboola is poised to thwart the plot to impeach him. Reports by Sahara Reporters stated that Agboola Ajayi has approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to stop the impeachment process.

It was reported that Ajayi, in an originating summon on his fundamental human rights sought the declaration of the court to restrain members of the state’s House of Assembly from impeaching him as deputy governor.

According to SaharaReporters, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barrister I. Olatoke approached the court on behalf of Agboola an joining in suit, the Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Director-General of the Department of State Services, Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, and Ondo State House of Assembly.

Ondo House of Assembly documents.

Idowu Sowunmi

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EFCC boss, Magu suspended over fraud allegation, SERAP fears powerplay

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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July 7, 2020

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Magu Malami — L-r: Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has been suspended by the Presidency pending when a decision will be taken on him.

The anti corruption agency chief was arrested on Monday by a combined team of Department of State Services personnel and policemen at the Wuse II office of the EFCC to face an interagency committee investigating corruption allegations against him.

Echotitbits reported earlier Tuesday morning how the fate of the embattled EFCC Chairman-Magu hangs in balance

He was detained at the FCID in Area 10, Abuja, on Monday night on the orders of the committee that also questioned him on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed “concerns about reports that the apparently arbitrary arrest of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, may be ‘the outcome of power-play’ at the highest levels of government.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of the agency, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The reported statement by a member of PACAC seems to suggest that Magu’s arrest may be politically motivated and aim to undermine the independence and freedom of action of the EFCC. If true, this would make a mockery of Buhari’s oft-repeated commitment to fight grand corruption and the impunity of perpetrators, which is fuelling widespread and systemic corruption in the country.”

Oluwadare, therefore, urged the authorities to afford Magu his constitutionally and internationally guaranteed fair trial rights.

“Magu must either be charged with a recognizable criminal offence or released immediately and allowed to do his job without fear of reprisals,” the statement read in part.

“Nigerian authorities cannot continue to keep Magu in detention under suspicious circumstances without bringing any legitimate charges against him in violation of national and international law.

“Nigerian authorities must support the independence and freedom of action of anti-corruption agencies and institutions if they are to be able to genuinely fight grand corruption, which has for many years turned public service for many into a kind of criminal enterprise.”

“Nigerian authorities should focus on addressing the impact of corruption such as political violence, and denial of access for millions of Nigerians to even the most basic health and education services, as well as other patterns of human rights violations.

“Improving the independence of anti-corruption agencies and institutions is the most promising way to make tangible progress in the fight against corruption now and in the near future.

“Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party guarantee to everyone the right to liberty and security of person, and that no one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.

“Similarly, Section 35(1) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) guarantees to every person the right to personal liberty and that no person should be arbitrarily deprived of such liberty.”

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