Society Gists

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, on Friday held brief discussions with the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

The separate short interactions took place after Magu joined President Muhammadu Buhari and other top government officials for Jumat prayers inside the Presidential Villa.

Magu and Monguno spoke briefly at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa before they were both driven out in Monguno’s car.

Our correspondent however learnt that Magu later met with Kyari in his (Kyari’s) office.

Other top government officials who joined Buhari for the Jumat prayer included the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau; and Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali.

Magu had on arrival, promised to talk to State House correspondents on his way out.

But while other worshippers were leaving after the prayer, the acting EFCC boss stayed back.

After exchanging pleasantries with a few persons, Magu avoided the journalists by joining the NSA in his car.

He was driven out of the forecourt of Presidential Villa through the Service Chiefs’ Gate, therefore avoiding journalists who were waiting on the corridor of the Press Gallery.

Daura had earlier left with Ganduje.

Buhari, who returned to the country last week Friday from his 49-day medical vacation, did not participate in the prayer last week.

He had gone into his official residence shortly after meeting some state governors and government officials.

The President’s return clearly caused an increase in the number of worshippers in the mosque.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the President had yet to receive a formal communication from the Senate on the rejection of Magu.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in an interview with our correspondent on Friday.

The Senate had on Wednesday rejected Magu’s nomination based on an unfavourable security report on him prepared by the Department of State Services.

That was the second time the upper chamber of the National Assembly would be rejecting his nomination.

The Presidency had earlier on Thursday said it would react formally to the development after receiving a formal notification from the Senate.

The President may re-present Magu’s name to the Senate for confirmation as substantive chairman, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Competent sources in the Presidency told our correspondent that Buhari might resend Magu’s name to the federal lawmakers.

“It is very likely that his name will be presented again to the Senate,” one of the sources said.

He said the President might do that because of the confidence he has in Magu that he would drive the current administration’s anti-corruption campaign.

When asked what will happen if the Senate rejects Magu for the third time, the source said, “When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.”