When the Senate first refused to confirm the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, few Nigerians expected President Muhammadu Buhari to resubmit his name to the Senate for confirmation. Expectedly, the Senate last Wednesday, again rejected Magu as EFCC’S helmsman.
Feelings from close government quarters indicate that the refusal of the Senate to confirm the appointment of Magu is not enough to stop him from continuing to spearhead the anti corruption crusade of the Buhari administration.
Indeed, despite his rejection twice by the Senate, it has come to light that Magu can legitimately continue to head the anti graft institution in acting capacity. For instance, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, is believed to have advised Buhari not to remove Magu. This is because the committee is convinced that Magu can continue in acting capacity indefinitely. Itse Sagay, chairman of the PACAC, explained that the committee has resolved that any attempt to remove Magu as the acting chairman of EFCC would negatively affect the war against corruption. “We observed that those who do not want him are those who are opposed to the fight against corruption. So, we are 100 per cent behind him,” intoned Sagay.