I don’t have two houses, Magu tells court

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu yesterday told an Ikeja High Court that he did not own two houses.

Magu told the court that he has only one house, which, he said, is situated in Karo, Abuja.

He stated this while being led in evidence by his counsel, Wahab Shittu, before Justice Doris Okuwobi in a libel suit instituted against The Sun.

The EFCC boss had sued the publishers of the newspaper before the court for libelous publication against his person.

Magu is claiming N5 billion as damages in a letter written to the publishers of the newspaper.

He had also demanded a public apology and retraction of the said libelous publication dated March 25, 2017 in The Sun.

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The publication titled: “Magu under fresh probe”, had alleged that two houses located in a highbrow area in Maitama, Abuja, were traced to his wife by the Department of State Security (DSS).

He said The Sun publications damaged his person and character nationally and internationally.

Magu contended that there was no iota of truth in the publication by the newspaper.

“The publication is totally false. Even if I have the money, I wouldn’t buy houses in Maitama,” Magu maintained.

“They said the houses are located in the Darrubbe and Missouri, Maitama and that they belong to my wife.

“My wife Fatima Yakaka Magu is a civil servant and cannot afford to buy houses in Maitama.

“I am an international man and the publication has damaged my reputation. The name Magu does not only end with me. The publication caused a whole lot of trauma for my lineage,” Magu said.

However, while under cross-examination by defence counsel, Charles Enwelunta, Magu said his wife is not a party in the suit he filed against the defendant.

“Are you sure you read the story very well?” Enwelunta asked Magu.

“Yes, I read it over and over again and they did not say DSS was investigating my wife,” Magu said.

Magu told the court that his appointment was to be confirmed by the Senate but that he does not know why the upper chamber declined to do so twice, when asked by the defence to name the arm of the government that was to confirm his appointment.

He, however, said he was not worried about the refusal of the Senate to confirm his appointment.

When Enwelunta took him up on his activities in the EFCC, Magu maintained that he secured 200 convictions in court in respect of cases bordering on corruption.

He said the Senate was in a better position to say why they rejected him, adding: “I have been there for three years and Nigerians are watching.”

Magu admitted knowing Inda Sule Moses, Lawal Mammah, Najeeb Iman and Adebayo Adeleke Rafiu with whom he faced the Senate during the screening exercise.

He said it was of no importance to him, if there are forces trying to get him out of office. .

Justice Okuwobi adjourned the matter till February 28, 2019 for further hearing.