Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu was according to reports detained last night after he was rigorously questioned. The presidential panel set up to investigate the allegations of corruption leveled against him and the agency under the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami ordered his detention. 

According to The Nation, the panel which is headed Justice Isa Ayo Salami, a retired president of the Court of Appeal, drilled Magu for many hours before he was whisked away from the Presidential Villa where he was interrogated the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at about 10.15pm shortly after the investigative panel ended its sitting. His escort mobile policemen and security detail were stood down before he was taken into custody. 

It was learnt that shortly after emerging from the sitting, Magu was led into a waiting white Hilux van marked 371D. Magu insisted on sitting in the open space at the back of the Hilux. 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.

“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.” a source told The Nation

It was also learnt last night that Magu might be suspended from office.

“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,” the source added

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 putting him in a cell.

Sitting on a chair, he 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.”