A former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Friday called on the Federal Government to uncover those who bought the properties seized by the commission.
In a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, titled, ‘Magu: Probe mustn’t be about his removal alone, buyers of seized properties must be uncovered’, Fayose said, “Those recovered loot that were ‘relooted’ must be ‘re-recovered’. This investigation must not end up as their usual paddy-paddy arrangement. It should not end up as a tool just to remove Magu because removing him will not be enough. The loot already ‘relooted’ must be ‘re-recovered’ and those who ‘relooted’ the loot brought to book.
“Nigerians must know the beneficiaries of the seized properties and how they were sold because most of these properties were (allegedly) bought by associates of Magu, including some so-called human rights lawyers.”
Computers destroyed at NFIU before panel’s visit
The probe of Magu however took an interesting turn on Friday as computers at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit – where evidence was purportedly kept, were destroyed.
The incident took place at the NFIU office located on Ibrahim Taiwo Street near the Presidential Villa barely hours before members of the Presidential panel investigating Magu were to visit the office to view evidence stored on the computers.
The NFIU, which used to be a unit under the EFCC before it was separated as an independent agency in 2018, was said to be a vital agency in the probe of Magu.
A top source said, “Some NFIU officials earlier in the week testified orally before the panel. However, they said they could not bring some sensitive materials before the panel because of their operational protocol.
“The members of the panel subsequently scheduled a visit to the NFIU office on Friday to view some of the evidence. However, before they could get to the NFIU office, some unknown persons had broken into the place and destroyed the computers.”
However, Magu’s lawyer, Tosin Ojaomo, said his client should not be linked with the alleged destruction of the computers, saying such linkage was as an attempt to damage his client’s reputation.
He said, “Magu has nothing to do with that matter. The main office of the NFIU is inside the Central Bank of Nigeria. That is where most of their operations take place.
“People are just doing everything possible to blackmail Magu. How can Magu who is in detention send people to destroy things? The truth will soon emerge.”
Ojaomo said he was unable to see Magu on Friday due to the long hours the committee sat for. “We didn’t succeed at getting him bailed today; by Monday morning we may have to take the (next) line of action. I still think IG can grant administrative bail,” he added.
Magu was said to have spent over eight hours before the panel.
