CORRECTS - Nigeria: Ex-secret police head to face corruption trial

CORRECTS THE DATE OF STATEMENT IN FIRST PARAGRAPH

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) – The former head of Nigeria’s secret police Ekpenyong Ita stands indicted, the country’s anti-graft chief said on Wednesday.

Ekpenyong Ita will face a corruption trial along with Ayo Oke, the former head of the National Intelligence Agency.

“We have concrete evidence to prosecute these former officials for corruption and there is no going back on our resolve to bring them to justice,” said Ibrahim Magu, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), speaking to reporters in the capital Abuja.

“The law will take its course,” said Magu, a day after secret police operatives thwarted attempts to arrest both Ita and Oke after they ignored summons by the anti-graft commission.

Oke was recently sacked from office after he was accused of alleged malfeasance, involving $43 million stashed in a private home owned by his wife. He denies wrongdoing but President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered his probe.

The charges against Ita are not known at the moment.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate expressed disgust at the standoff between the anti-graft agency and the secret police, and ordered a probe into Tuesday’s face off during the arrest.

The Senate -- several members of which face corruption trials -- wants Magu sacked after his nomination was twice rejected, but Buhari has turned a deaf ear to it.

The Senate had based its rejection on a report by the secret police which allegedly indicted Magu of abuse of office and corruption - charges the anti-graft czar dismisses as politically motivated.