TheCable

The Department of State Services (DSS) has described Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a “perennial offender who cannot change”.

The agency said it recovered a forged memo purportedly emanating from the office of the vice-president, directing EFCC to investigate Ibeh Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, from an associate of Magu.

The DSS said this in a letter to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

In the letter, which was sent to the AGF on December 16, 2016, a day after the senate first rejected the nomination of Magu as EFCC chairman, the secret police claimed that the forged document was found at the residence of Mohammed Umar, a retired air commodore, and Magu’s alleged proxy.

The senate had rejected Magu’s nomination, citing a DSS security report as the reason for its decision.

The DSS also described Magu’s closeness to Umar as “detrimental to national security”.

“His relationship with Umar Mohammed which involved disclosure of very sensitive and classified official documents in his possession shows lack of professionalism and assails his integrity,” it said about Magu in the letter.

“Moreso, for an officer who was indicted and nearly dismissed six years ago, to again be involved in similar circumstances, it is clear that Magu is a perennial offender and cannot change.

“Annexure ‘C’ – This is a forged Memo which supposedly originated from the office of the vice-president and addressed to Mr President. This was recovered from the private residence of Umar during a search operation by this service. The document is a request for approval to commence further investigation into financial activities of honourable minister of state for petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu.

“Also attached to the memo are two genuine investigation reports by the EFCC on the honourable minister, dated 24th March, 2016 & 13th April, 2016 and duly signed by Magu. One of the two attachments indicates that the original investigation report earlier was purportedly received in the VP’s office by one Folabo Kay.

“Annexure ‘D’ – This is a letter from the office of the vice president affirming that annexure ‘C’ is a forged document.”