MAGU: WHEN THE ARRESTER IS ARRESTED
Ima Nkanta
The news of the investigation of Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of EFCC for diversion of some recovered stolen loot, or for whatever alleged criminal indictment is a bad one for Nigeria, especially when the Hushpuppi arrest and trial for fraud and money laundering continues to trend globally.
Magu, amongst others, is accused of 24 alleged wrongdoing. According to reports, “Most of the allegations, it was learnt, emanated from a report by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and a DSS report which was submitted to the Senate in 2016 and 2017.
The EFCC boss was accused of living above his means, fraternising with corrupt persons, diversion of recovered funds and many others.”
What picture does Ibrahim Magu’s alleged crimes portend for the country and all of us? Isn’t it portraying us in a very bad light as an incurably corrupt and wicked nation?
How can someone entrusted with the responsibility to hunt those whose fingers are stained with corruption become the hunted, and we are still sitting down gazing?
Read Also: Magu spends night in police cell, interrogation continues today
For all I know and read about Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and how he and his team have painted themselves as iconoclastic saints who sneeze at foul ordour of corruption and financial crimes, this man, in my estimation, should be the very last person to be worried about for breathing in the same foul ordour he once poked.
Whether the presidential committee investigating him for possible crimes, based on the allegations from the attorney general and minister of justice of the federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami, acquit or indict him, the stark and dark dart of evil has already been cast on the man I once saw and respected based oñ his incorruptible gait.
Then corruption seems to be winning the battle against the present government. And, in fact, it is.
While as humans, we are not infallible, some persons in certain positions of responsibilities and power, should steer away from the very evils they are called to pursue away from society. Why should someone like Ibrahim Magu who has stood head to head and toe to toe, fighting suspected corrupt persons up to the national assembly, state governors, and other top political office holders, now subject himself to the very shameful road his victims treaded?
This is so sad. Sad because the government that appointed and gave Ibrahim Magu power to fight corruption, came with the mission of fighting corruption and eliminating it; this ongoing Magu’s saga will further cast slush on this government as pretenders, who only talk but behind the scenes, cuddle the filth. Or is the war just beginning within with the Magu’s saga?
Suffices that his travail is just an investigation, and not an actual indictment, but there’s really no big difference because the road that brought him to the investigative panel or committee, has led many others into the dark side of history.
We await further developments!