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Former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) has debunked reports his house was searched by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the orders of the suspended acting chairman of the agency, Ibrahim Magu.
Chairman of THISDAY editorial board, Segun Adeniyi had, in his Thursday Column, claimed that Abdulsalami’s residence in Minna was search by EFCC operatives on the orders of Magu.
“A few weeks before that incident, the Minna residence of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar was raided by EFCC operatives who ‘turned the house upside down’,” said Adeniyi. “The president also got to know only after the deed had been done.”
But in a statement issued on Thursday, the former head of state’s Military Assistant Captain J. Mfon (rtd), said: “The attention of His Excellency, Gen. A A A Abubakar has been drawn to reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) searched his house in Minna, Niger State, on the orders of its Acting Chairman, CP Ibrahim Magu, and he feels the need to put the record straight: his house has never been searched by either EFCC or any security agency.
Mfon said sometime in 2017 though, Abdusalami’s residence was mistaken for a house sought by the EFCC operatives from Kano but left when they realise they were in a wrong place.
“However, sometime in 2017 operatives of the Commission from Kano zone came to Minna to search a house in Tunga. The team ended up at His Excellency’s Guest House in Minna and told the security officers on duty that they had instructions from their zonal head to search the property,” he said.
“The officers said since the numbering of houses in Tunga was haphazard, it must be a case of mistaken identity. When CP Magu was contacted, he said he was not aware of the operation. Thereafter, the EFCC team from Kano left. His Excellency’s understanding is that they realised they came to the wrong address. However, no search was conducted in the guest house.
“His Excellency as a rule does not comment on media publications directed at or concerning him. He has taken this step in view of the reactions these reports are generating. His Excellency felt the need to provide this important clarification due to the ongoing media frenzy insinuating His Excellency’s role in Magu’s issue.”
