Buhari removes Lamorde; appoints Magu as new EFCC chairman

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, announced the appointment of Ibrahim Magu, a senior official of the Economic and Governance Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as the new chairman of the anti-graft agency.

This follows the sack with immediate effect of embattled Ibrahim Lamorde, facing series of calls for his prosecution by members of the National Assembly.

Lamorde is due to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Tuesday, to answer questions over a one trillion naira fraud allegation preferred against him.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, confirmed in Abuja, last Friday that the committee would have invited Lamorde earlier before now but for its other engagements.

“We are ready to resume our investigation on the petition brought against the EFCC chairman and he had been summoned to appear before us next week Tuesday (October 10). We should have done it much earlier but for the tight schedule of the committee,” Anyanwu said.

Also, a member of the committee Senator Dino Melaye, who said the upper chamber was set to resume the probe of the EFCC boss, attributed the delay in summoning Lamorde to appear before the panel to the fact that the Senate was in the last three weeks, preoccupied with the screening of the ministerial nominees.

Melaye added that the committee was thoroughly involved in the exercise.

Magu, a top level official of the Economic and Governance Unit of the EFCC, has been elevated to the position of chairman of the commission.

He is remembered as a no-nonsense investigator of the commission at its inception who was removed along with several other key officials by Farida Waziri when she became chairman in 2008.

The removal of Lamorde is seen by many as now clearing the way for the full prosecution of the former EFCC boss.

Magu served as head of the EFCC’s Economic Governance Unit (EGU) during the tenure of Malam Nuhu Ribadu as chairman. He was arrested on August 4, 2008 following allegations that police discovered EFCC files and a computer containing classified documents at his Abuja residence.

During his time at the EFCC, he led investigations into the affairs of officials including former Delta State Governor, James Ibori and current Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Magu is a recipient of USG and London Metropolitan Police Institute training. He reportedly worked with Ribadu to jail his brother-in-law and former Bank of the North chief, Shettima Bulama. Bulama was later pardoned by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He is a member of the investigative committee convened by the current National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the procurement of arms in the Armed Forces from 2007 till date.

He is an Assistant Commissioner of Police.