By Henry Odeh
President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly suspended no fewer than 11 senior officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as the probe of embattled Ibrahim Magu deepened.
The EFCC executive Secretary Olanipekun Olukoyede was reportedly among the senior officials suspended. Sunrisebulletin.com gathered.
Olukoyede became the Secretary to the EFCC in November 2018 following his confirmation by the Senate.
The Ikere-Ekiti born senior lawyer was a former chief of staff to Magu. He replaced Emmanuel Aremo, whose five-year tenure expired in July 2018.
According to the source, ‘they were suspended for various alleged criminal and corrupt infractions”.
The suspension of the officials was also to allow for unfettered investigation of the commission under the erstwhile chairman.
“All the top officials in the agency have been suspended, their offices locked, to prevent any tampering with files at the commission,” the source added.
President Buhari suspended Ibrahim Magu, the former acting chairman of the agency last week and appointed the director of operations, Mohammed Umar Abba, to hold forte in his stead.
The source also said Umar Abba survived the temporary purge, as he was found not to be a part of the suspected underhand dealings in the agency.
The former acting chairman of the agency is facing for the second week, grilling by the presidential panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, over financial allegations and improprieties, including money laundering.
He is facing tough questioning over allegations that he re-looted funds recovered by the commission and that he accepted bribes to pervert cases of corruption.
