…Gives commission 45 days to submit report
President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized a Judicial Commission of inquiry to undertake a complete probe into the allegations levelled suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, and the commission.
The probe is to cover the period 2015 to 2020, looking into the finances of the agency within the period, according to the terms of reference of the new body.
The seven-man commission is still headed by Justice Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal, who has been heading the Presidential Investigative Panel. The other members are DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael (NPF)- South-South, Deputy Chairman; Muhammad Abubakar ,, Federal Ministry of Justice (North Central); Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi (DSS) (North Central); Muhammad Shamsuddeen (OAGF) (North West); Douglas Egweme (NFIU) South-East, and Kazeem Attitebi (South-West), who will serve as the Secretary.
In an authority instrument dated July 3, 2020, derivable from the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004), the President gave the panel five key terms of reference and 45 days to conduct its inquiry, and submit its report to the Presidency.
“I hereby direct the judicial commission to submit its interim report to me from time to time, but the judicial commission shall, in any case, submit its final report not later than 45 days from the date of its first public sitting or within such extended period as may be authorised by me in writing,” President Buhari wrote in the authority instrument dated July 3, 2020.
Terms of Reference
The Extent of Mismanagement/Diversion of Recovered Assets
*The panel is to investigate, verify and review the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets as it relates to EFCC, with a view to ascertaining the complicity or otherwise of the acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, in the management of the assets recovered by the commission.
“Identify avenues through which the recovered assets are dissipated and seized, recovered, forfeited (interim and final) assets are valued, managed, disposed or mismanaged, with a view to ascertaining compliance or otherwise with extant laws, regulations, processes and procedures “Review the existing procedures on the management of the seized, recovered and forfeited assets (interim and final) and proffer standard operational procedure for the management of seized, recovered and forfeited assets.
“Determine whether moveable or immoveable assets, including funds or cash recovered during his tenure, whether locally in Nigeria or abroad, are being kept safely in a manner as to preserve their original value.
“Identify locations of all moveable and immoveable assets, funds or cash that are under interim or final forfeiture, based on administrative or court orders and identify the bank accounts to which recovered funds or cash were paid into and whether generated interests from the recovered funds or cash were properly accounted for.
“It is also to confirm whether all the assets could be properly accounted for by the acting chairman and take measures to confirm if any of the assets had been diverted to the benefit of the acting chairman, his family, relations, friends or favoured staff and recover any of such diverted assets, funds or cash, if any and recommend if the funds should be returned to EFCC or appropriate government agency, entities, or individuals.”
Investigation of abuse of office and non-compliance with official directives
The Salami commission is to investigate report on the existence or otherwise of dereliction of duty and abuse of processes and procedures against the acting chairman of the EFCC as it relates to his conduct on the following:
‘’Investigation of P&ID and determine what happened when the case was first referred to him in 2016 and high profile local and international cases, inclusive of the case of Diezani Alison Madueke and others, complaints by the UK National Crime Agency, NCA, in London, complaints of non-compliance with court orders, complaints of non-compliance with procurement and financial management laws, non-compliance with presidential and ministerial directives. Audit the accounts of EFCC as a legal entity
It will also audit the accounts of EFCC as a legal entity in line with public service rules, EFCC Act and other extant laws of Nigeria, audit the assets and finances of EFCC as a legal entity from 2015 to 2020, with a view to ascertaining compliance or otherwise with procurement procedures of the EFCC in line with the Public Procurement Act.
It will also undertake an investigation into personal enrichment with the assets recovered.
It is also to investigate and report on corruption and money laundering allegations involving the acting chairman and Bureau de Change operators, as well as some of his associates as per the intelligence reports and petitions and to work with any other persons, organizations or corporate entity to achieve the objectives of the terms of reference and to make any other observation and recommendations as it deems necessary.
The President also authorized the commission to make appropriate recommendations concerning each person, authority and organisation investigated by it and what judicial or administrative measures if any should be taken to recover all misappropriated funds and assets.
Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice had earlier raised 22 allegations against Magu, to which the latter also provided responses. These allegations feature prominently in the terms of reference for the Commission.