The anti-corruption war suffered a setback last week when, seizing on the missteps of the Presidency, the Senate roundly rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It was the second time that Magu would come up for confirmation and, like the first, the man who has led the rejuvenation of the assault on graft was tripped up by the hostility of a compromised political class and an ambush from his own corner. Muhammadu Buhari should take responsibility for the mess and tidy up his house to save his presidency.
The hearing was a national show of shame. It suggested dysfunction in Aso Rock and depicted the President as distracted. The entire Magu saga has been badly handled from the start and Buhari stands the risk of seeing his major electoral asset — a resolute anti-corruption stance — go down in tatters.
For the discredited Senate, Buhari and his spy chief handed it a remarkable gift. Lawal Daura, Director-General of the State Security Service, caused to be sent to the legislators a report that laid several allegations against Magu and added a clincher: that the nominee had integrity issues that could prejudice the anti-corruption war. It was the opening the senators were waiting for.Click here for more detail
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