Adegboruwa challenges Magu’s position as EFCC chairman

• ‘Commission may probe alleged missing N500m Chibok school fund’
A human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa yesterday filed a suit at the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, to stop the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, from parading himself as the head of the commission.

Adegboruwa is also asking the Senate not to entertain any further request for his confirmation, since he had defied the earlier decision not to endorse him.

In a 39-paragraph affidavit, Adegboruwa said he was qualified to file the suit as a human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner and former students leader.

According to him, since Magu’s appointment was made in November 2015, he had functioned in acting capacity beyond the six months period allowed by law.

He joined the Senate, the Attorney General of the Federation, the EFCC and Magu as defendants in the suit, citing Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act to support his argument.

Adegboruwa contended that since President Muhammadu Buhari had relied on the EFCC’s Act to send his name for confirmation, there was no basis for his continued stay in office.

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday disclosed EFCC’s readiness to probe the alleged missing N500 million earmarked for rebuilding Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

This followed a petition written by the group to the EFCC chairman.

The petition urged the commission to “identify and invite for questioning anyone suspected to be involved in the alleged diversion, including the contractors that handled the project.”

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State had alleged that the fund, which was released by former President Goodluck Jonathan, could not be accounted for.

SERAP’s senior staff attorney, Timothy Adewale, confirmed that the EFCC had requested it to provide additional information to assist their investigation.