The former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has refuted a report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the leadership of its embattled former chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu searched his house.
Abubakar was reacting to a suggestion by the chairman of ThisDay editorial board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi who wrote in his Thursday (July 9) column that his house was searched by the EFCC on the instruction of Magu.
In a statement by his military assistant, Capt. J. Mfon, the former head of state said his residence had never been searched by either the EFCC or any other security agency.
“The attention of His Excellency General A. A. Abubakar has been drawn to reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) searched his house in Minna, Niger State, on the orders of its Acting Chairman, CP Ibrahim Magu, and HE feels the need to put the record straight: His house has never been searched by either the EFCC or any security agency.
“However, sometimes in 2017 operatives of the commission from Kano zone came to Minna to search a house in Tunga. The team ended up at His Excellency’s Guest House in Minna and told the security officers on duty that they had instructions from their zonal head to search the property.
“The officers said since the numbering of houses in Tunga was haphazard, it must be a case of mistaken identity. When CP Magu was contacted, he said he was not aware of the operation. Thereafter, the EFCC team from Kano left. His Excellency’s understanding is that they realised they came to the wrong address. However, no search was conducted in the guest house.
“His Excellency, as a rule, does not comment on media publications directed at or concerning him. He has taken this step in view of the reactions these reports are generating. His Excellency felt the need to provide this important clarification due to the ongoing media frenzy insinuating His Excellency’s role in Magu’s issue.”
Reacting to the rebuttal, Adeniyi said: “Gen. Abdulsalami called me to explain that he had no problem with Magu and that the house in question was a guest house and it was by mistake. Mrs. Daisy Danjuma also called me earlier in the day. She confirmed they recently purchased a plane to replace the old one but that there was no EFCC problem with the cheque which she said she signed. She also said her husband never complained about Magu.
“I think the problem is that some readers are interpreting my anecdote to mean that both Danjuma and Abdulsalami had anything to do with the travails of Magu. I made no such claim in my column,” he said.
