Group drags Senate to UN over EFCC boss' rejection

dimeji akinloye

December 18, 2016 3:06 PM

In the petition, the group accused the Senate of working to intimidate and harass Magu with baseless accusations.

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu

The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability (SERAP), has risen to the defense of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),

SERAP dragged the upper chamber before the United Nations with a petition addressed to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst.

In the petition, the group accused the Nigerian Senate of attempting to intimidate and harass Magu with baseless accusations.

It also said the Senate used "a purported security report it knew, or ought to know is baseless and politically motivated" to reject Magu’s confirmation as substantive EFCC Chairman.

"The Senate of Nigeria has flagrantly violated Ibrahim Magu’s right to a fair hearing, and is implicitly working to weaken, intimidate, harass and ultimately undermine the independence and freedom of action of the EFCC in its efforts to combat high-profile official corruption," the group said.

ALSO READ: 'There's corruption in EFCC too,' Chairman says

The Senate on Thursday, December 15, refused to confirm Magu's nomination based on a security report by the Department of State Service (DSS), in which the embattled chairman was accused of corruption.

dimeji akinloye