The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately take decisive steps to resolve the rifts between the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minster of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on one hand, and the Inspector General of Police, IGP and Senator Misau, on the other.
Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL, stated that, “The media is awash with the banters, accusations and counter-accusations that are being exchanged in the ‘rifts’ and this definitely calls for Presidential intervention which will encompass thorough investigations, transparency, compliance with rule of law and of course, discretion. As a matter of fact, it is long overdue.”
“The ‘feud’ between the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, must immediately be waded into and with absolute circumspection by the President, he is their employer; the buck stops on his desk and the issues at stake are of national and public interests,” Adeniran noted.
“We state, unequivocally, that a divided approach in the battle against corruption spells doom for the process like we are already witnessing with ejection of Nigeria from the Egmont group, a body which the country needs for international cooperation in the war against graft. Whatever obstacle/s that has led to the ejection of the country must be identified, interrogated and excised by the Federal government.
“The required approach must prioritize the essence of institutions above personalities; it must look thoroughly into the validity of the accusations and counter-accusations and where unethical and unlawful activity is established, necessary punitive must be applied. There is no place for ‘hiding behind a finger’ if any reasonable and amicable resolution is to be achieved.
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“Beyond the present manifestations, inter-agencies rivalries have always encumbered government performance at many levels must be confronted. This is the imperative of circumspection in whatever approaches the government is adopting beyond the present AGF and EFCC boss example. Yet, it is these unnecessary rivalries that must be eliminated before they germinate to more embarrassing picturesque,” he articulated.
He also protested that, “The ‘rift’ between the Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Isah Misau, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, calls for immediate intervention too. The Senator alleged that Idris collected about N120 billion annually as payment for special security services rendered by the Police to corporate organisations and very important personalities.
“The IGP also accused Misau of being a deserter who was out on some mission. The allegations are serious and deserve to be treated in the same manner with the AGF/MAGU feud. The veracity or otherwise of the accusations and counter-accusations must be established such that anyone found culpable is made to face the wrath of law.” Adeniran concluded