The embattled former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has revealed that vehicles recovered from looters were auctioned to the Presidency and other Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
This was contained in a letter written to the Justice Ayo Salami led presidential panel Investigation the former anti-corruption Czar of corruption and abuse of office.
In the letter, Magu stated how cars recovered from suspects were auctioned by the agency while he was in charge.
According to Magu, the cars were auctioned to Aso Rock, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and social development, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
See Also: Buhari reacts to Senate’s demand for removal of service chiefs
The former acting chairman revealed further that the vehicles were not paid for by the Government agencies. Instead, an agreement was reached to deduct the monies from the overhead allocation for the year.
“On allocation of vehicles to some government agencies through special auction with presidential approval.
“The beneficiary agencies are: the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of which the valued price is to be debited from their allocation; State House, National Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons; Federal Inland Revenue Service and National Directorate of Employment.”
Excerpts from Magu’s letter read.
He thereafter revealed that the commission had received approval from Aso Rock to auction an additional 450 recovered vehicles but was yet to do so.
Magu said some recovered property was allocated to several Federal Government Agencies including the Voice of Nigeria (VON), North-East Development Commission, and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.
He said other forfeited property which were subject to court cases were being rented by other government agencies including the Nigerian Army and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“Properties under interim forfeiture order are rented by the following government agencies: Nigerian Army, Federal Ministry of Finance, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
“Other agencies of government that have approached the commission to rent properties under interim forfeiture order include: National Human Rights Commission and National Council for Arts and culture.”
Magu added that some of the properties were also handed over to Lagos State temporarily to use as COVID-19 isolation centre.
According to a report by the Punch, the letter was rejected by the panel who informed the former EFCC boss that if clarification was needed on any of the pending matter, he would be summoned by the panel.
Leave a Reply