Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu has been detained.

He was taken away from the Presidential Villa, where he was interrogated to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at about 10.15pm on Monday, July 6th, 2020 shortly after the investigative panel ended its sitting.

The EFCC’s boss escort mobile policemen and security detail were stood down before he was taken into custody.

We gathered that Magu was led into a waiting white Hilux van marked 371D. He insisted on sitting in the open space at the back of the Hilux.

But the police team persuaded him to sit in the first cabin. The ding-doing over his relocation to the FCID lasted about 25 minutes. Magu was later allowed to go to the FCID in his official car.

Insiders said: “In the light of the ongoing investigation, it became expedient to detain Magu at the FCID. We do not want him to return to the office while he is being questioned, because he is likely to have another session with the Justice Salami panel.”

“By not allowing him to go back to his office was an indication that he might be suspended. It is obvious that the Presidency has concluded plans to look for a new candidate for the office.”

We were told that at the FCID around 10.50pm, Magu rejected an offer to take him into an office to stay the night. He told the officers in charge to treat him like a suspect by putting him in a cell.

Magu said; “I won’t go and sleep in any office, I prefer to be in a cell. Kindly put me in a cell. That is what Allah wants for me. I can’t question God.”

For hours on Monday, July 6th, 2020 Magu testified before a panel looking into allegations levelled against him by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The panel is headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, a retired president of the Court of Appeal.

There was drama to Magu’s invitation earlier in the day. He was intercepted on the road along Fomella Street while moving out of the Wuse II office Annex of the EFCC in Abuja.

The invitation was then extended to him by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

The CSP’s vehicle had a backup comprising a three-man security team, who closely watched the encounter.

Magu was on his way to the Force Headquarters. He pleaded with the officer to allow him to honour the scheduled appointment.

But he was told the invitation by the panel was superior to his appointment.

At about 1.35pm, Magu arrived at the Villa. While the session lasted, Magu had unfettered access to his mobile phones.

The panel was also polite as he was allowed to pray and given a free lunch.

Sources said; “The CSP was polite. He even allowed Magu to speak with an officer in the FCID to ensure that the invitation was genuine.”

“Instead of going to the Force Headquarters, Magu called his lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and headed for the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.”

Some of the allegations against Magu by Malami are as follows;

• Alleged discrepancies in the reconciliation records of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds
• Declaration of N539billion as recovered funds instead of N504b earlier claimed
• Insubordination to the office of the AGF by not seeking his approval on some decisions
• Not providing enough evidence for the extradition of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke
• Alleged late action on the investigation of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) leading to legal dispute
• Not respecting court order to unfreeze a N7billion judgment in favour of a former Executive Director of First Bank
• Alleged delay in acting on two vessels seized by Nigerian Navy leading to the loss of crude
• Alleged favouring of some investigators called Magu’s Boys
• Reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to the AGF
• Alleged sales of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends
• Alleged issuance of investigative activities to some media prejudicial to some cases.
• A top source said: “Magu and his officers had spent the last two weeks looking at all the allegations and compiled appropriate responses to them with documents.