SERAP drags Senate to UN over Magu’s rejection

The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability (SERAP), has dragged the Nigerian Senate before the United Nations over its rejection of Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
SERAP is petitioning the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, over alleged intimidation, harassment and unfair treatment of Mr Magu by the senate in collaboration with other agencies of government.
According to the group, the upper house used what it describes as “a purported security report it knew, or ought to know is baseless and politically motivated” to reject Mr Magu’s confirmation as substantive EFCC Chairman.
SERAP said “the Senate of Nigeria has flagrantly violated Ibrahim Magu’s right to a fair hearing, and is implicitly working to weaken, intimidate, harass and ultimately undermine the independence and freedom of action of the EFCC in its efforts to combat high-profile official corruption”.
The Senate, explaining the reason behind the decision, said that security report available to it showed that Mr Magu was not fit to be chairman of the body.
In this regard, the lawmakers sent back his nomination letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, (CACOL), also said the non-confirmation, based on what was described as a ‘security report’ from the Department of State Services (DSS) was appalling and ridiculous.