Following the refusal of the Nigerian Senate to confirm Ibrahim Magu as as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the United States Ambassador to Nigeria W. Stuart Symington has met the former to hear his defense.
The delegation, it was gathered, tabled the allegations levelled against Magu by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Magu, who may be replaced, reportedly told the visitors that he was not guilty of all the accusations.
The session, a sign of US interest in Nigeria’s anti-corruption war, held last Friday.
A source told The Nation that: “The US Embassy took on Magu on every issue in the DSS report to ascertain whether or not he committed the infractions levelled against him.
“The team wanted to know if Magu had indeed failed the integrity test which made the United States to support him.
“The Acting EFCC chairman responded to every issue without betraying his emotion. At the end, Magu said he was innocent of all the allegations against him.
“He said he has also responded to the query given to him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).
“The U.S. Embassy team was satisfied with Magu’s response. The Ambassador and others later took a photograph with him.
“With this session, we are hopeful that the US support for the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari will be more enhanced”.
DSS alleged that Magu’s accommodation in Abuja was paid for by a “corrupt businessman” and that he flew first class to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, contrary to federal government’s directive.
Magu was also accused of being illegally in possession of confidential EFCC documents when he was a director in 2007.
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