• Beware of conmen using my name –Magu
From James Ojo and Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
The House of Representatives, yesterday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed for infractions in the land-for-infrastructure programme.
The directive was subsequent to the adoption of a report from the Committee on FCT which investigated abandoned capital projects and alleged malpractices associated with the land for infrastructure programme.
The Land For Investment Programme better known as the Land Swap Deal was introduced during the administration of former President Goodluck by Mohammed.
In the deal, 7,600 hectres of land was made available by the FCT ministry to investors, for the development of housing, roads and related infrastructure.
Hembe, who presented the report, disclosed his committee found out that contrary to procedures of the then FCT administration, detailing requirements to qualify as a partner, majority of the companies selected by the FCTA failed to make the mandatory deposit of N350 million, based upon which an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ought to have been signed before land was allocated.
The lawmaker further told the House that despite the failure to meet the financial requirement, and the non-observance of other requirements such as the signing of a Comprehensive District Development plan, majority of the 23 companies selected by the FCTA were allocated land.
Meanwhile, Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu has warned members of the public not to fall into the hands of fraudsters and scammers using his name to swindle people.
Magu, who issued the warning through EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, yesterday, said information at the commission’s disposal showed that some people were using the chairman’s name to defraud innocent citizens.
“Mr. Magu has not and will never mandate any individual to demand gratification from persons under investigation,” the statement read in part.
“It has come to the attention of EFCC that some unscrupulous individuals now parade the streets posing as representatives of the acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu and extorting money from persons under investigation, promising them a soft-landing and, in some instances, giving them assurances that their cases would be closed.
“Intelligence reports available to the commission indicate that some of them, who are known to have relationships with the acting chairman, are exploiting this knowledge to position themselves as agents of the anti-graft czar, to extort desperate suspects under investigation by the commission.”
The anti graft agency noted that not too long ago, the public was notified about the activities of some individuals who cloned Magu’s phone number, using same to illegally solicit funds, while some even opened fake Facebook accounts in his name and used same to con unsuspecting citizens.
The commission expressed worry that the alarms raised have not deterred criminally-minded persons from their nefarious activities.
As a result of the new development, the commission charged members of the public “to report anyone who approaches them with a request for gratification on behalf of the EFCC chairman, to the nearest EFCC office or police station.”