Nigeria arrests financial crimes commission head

ANKARA (AA) - Acting Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu was arrested on Monday after being found guilty “of action prejudicial to state security,” local media reported.

“In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment,” the Sahara Reporters website cited a report released by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2016.

“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service,” the website said.

Magu was arrested at the Wuse II office of the DSS on Monday afternoon, and he is currently undergoing interrogation at the DSS Headquarters In Aso Drive, according to the report.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m,” the report revealed, according to the website.

Magu is yet to be confirmed as EFCC's substantive chairman despite of occupying the position in “acting capacity for many years.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering.