The Acting Chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday said
there was no street fight between EFCC and two security agencies: Nigeria Intelligence
Agency, NIA, and the State Security Service, SSS.
Mr. Magu’s stance was in response
to comments by chairman of the Senate ad-hoc committee constituted to
investigate the face-off, Francis Alimikhena.
Mr. Alimikhena while insisting
that the hearing be held in presence of journalists had referred to the
face-off among the agencies as street fight.
“There is nothing hidden because
they fought in the street,” he said “They fought dirty and Nigerian people will
like to know what led to that fight. What happened in that dirty fight, I don’t
think it’s something we should hide from the public. For me, I would prefer
that we do this openly for Nigerians to see. It’s a shame on all of us for
sister security agencies to be fighting dirty in the street. Which means we
don’t have spirit de corps. For them to fight in the public then they should
tell us what led to that fight.”
The senator was the only one
among the five committee members who wanted the hearing made public.
Mr. Magu, however, did not wait for
the commencement of the closed-door session before venting his dissatisfaction
at the senator’s choice of words.
The EFCC boss told the senator
that the EFCC never engaged in street fight but went out to carry out its
constitutional duty.
“Mr. Chairman, I really don’t
know. There was no street fight, there was no dirty fight. We did not fight
anybody. So, the reference to street fight dirty fight, I don’t think its
proper sir. There was never a street fight. My men went there, they were not
allowed to execute the due warrant of arrest and the search warrant.”
The senator did not respond to
his comments.
The lawmakers then agreed to hold
the hearing behind closed door.
The committee also agreed to hold
separate hearing for each of the agencies, starting with the EFCC, before
inviting the three to a final hearing.
Recall that Nigerian Eye had reported the
incident last month as NIA and SSS officials prevented the EFCC operatives from
arresting Ita Ekpeyong, ex-head of the SSS; and Ayodele Oke, ex-head of the
NIA.
It should not be done behind closed doors,. Why the secrecy.
ReplyDeletesenators thinks they will get magu wanting , but after they heard from him they become reluctant that is why they said is going to clause door. GOD will really shame some people
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