Magu released from in detention after 10 days

On Wednesday, the embattled and suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has been released from police custody after 10 days in detention.

Magu was arrested on July 6, 2020 amid allegations of corruption and brought before the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential panel.

He was also accused of insubordination and purchase of property in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on Monday, July 6, 2020, following a summons by the presidential panel probing his activities in office. The suspended EFCC boss was accused of being unable to account for the interest accrued to recovered funds of about N550bn.

He was seen on Wednesday evening saying his prayers with other Muslim faithful at his residence. He wore a white caftan with white cap.

During his detention, Magu spent the night at Area 10, force criminal investigation department (FCID) of the police in Abuja. His personal and official residences in Abuja were searched while his security aides were withdrawn.

He had earlier written to Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, to demand bail but the IGP asked him to redirect his request to the Ayo Salami panel for appropriate attention.

Magu’s release came hours after news broke that 12 EFCC directors had been suspended in connection with the probe. Some of the directors affected by the action were involved in investigating Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation.

Magu’s travails followed a memo by Malami accusing him of grave malfeasance. He was alleged to have mishandled the recovered loot and sold seized assets to his associates. A slew of allegations has come to the fore since his arrest. He was alleged to have purchased a property in Dubai, United Arab Emirate using a pastor as a conduit.

He was also alleged to have laundered over N500 billion through a bureau-de-change in Kaduna. Magu, through his lawyers, has denied the allegations