Panel orders transfer of ‘key’ EFCC officers back to police 

The presidential panel probing the suspended Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Magu, has ordered the withdrawal of several police officers working at the Commission.

The EFCC, an agency that investigates financial crimes, usually writes to the Inspector General of Police requesting for officers, who occupy senior positions for most of its operations while others serve as security details and investigators at the commission.

A top official, who craved anonymity, disclosed that following the panel’s directives in a letter, about 20 zonal heads and sectional heads were asked to be withdrawn from the commission back to the police force on Monday.

According to the source, the instructions are that all zonal heads and sectional heads who are police officers have been asked to move back to base.

“It is the panel that directed the EFCC acting chairman to write to the police requesting that they change (send) all the senior officers who are sectional heads and zonal heads back to the police.

“The affected people have been issued with letters and they were directed to report to police force secretary on Monday.”

The source added that some directors and other key officers of the EFCC who are considered to be close to Magu were issued suspension letters.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, however, could not be reached for comment.

Recalled, that Magu is currently being investigated by a panel headed by Ayo Salami, former president of the appeal court, over allegations of graft and insubordination levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Magu has denied and described the allegations that he diverted billions of naira of recovered funds as well as the interests accruing from the funds levelled against him as baseless after his arrest.

Efforts made to reach Frank Mba, the police spokesperson, were unsuccessful.