President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and appointed in his place Mohammed Umar.
Magu, a commissioner of police is under investigation by a presidential committee head by former Court of Appeal President, Justice Ayo Salami, over acts of misconduct and mismanagement of recovered public funds stolen by government officials.
A statement from Umar Gwandu, spokesman to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed the suspension on Friday.
Gwandu said in the statement, “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Ag. Chairman EFCC in order to allow for unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws.
The statement also said that the Commission’s Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar would oversee activities of the EFCC while Magu is being investigated.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar, should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives in that regards.”
Magu has been under detention since he was arrested on Monday and in the last five days, has spent his days answering questions from the presidential panel and his nights at the Area 10 FCID