Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has revealed in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari that investigation of Justice Walter Onnoghen started a long time before he became Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Copies of the letter, titled, ‘Interim investigation report: Alleged case of bribery, corruption and money laundering’, with reference number EFCC/EC/P/01 and dated January 30, 2019, were leaked to journalists on Tuesday.
Magu based the investigation on an intelligence report which he said alleged that Onnoghen was in possession of huge naira and foreign currencies that were far above his known legitimate source of income and listed the various monies discovered in bank accounts linked to the suspended CJN.
He also revealed that the commission could not continue after his appointment because of the commission’s inability to get his Assets Declaration Form from the Code of Conduct Bureau to enable it to conduct further investigation into his assets.
Magu also said the inability of the EFCC to invite Onnoghen for interview to confront him on the findings also posed a challenge saying as a public figure, the commission did not want the investigation to be made public, so it did not invite other suspects who featured in his statement of account for questioning.
Magu wrote: “For speedy investigation, a special investigation team which will include lawyers and investigators will be constituted to specifically investigate allegations levelled against the suspect. The investigation is expected to be concluded within a short time frame.
“There is need to get the Asset Declaration Form of the suspect from the Code of Conduct Bureau for further investigation and to determine his net worth.
“Invitation of all individuals seen to have featured in his statements of account as having sent money to his account or received.
“Invitation of other individuals who paid money into the suspect’s Standard Chartered Bank account for interview.
“Determination of the source and mode of payments of the deposits into the SCB investment account held by the suspect with the aim of unraveling the individuals/entities that have given funds to the suspect over the years and expose his other sources of income.
“It is no doubt indicative of the fact that the suspect must have been involved in bribery and corruption as well as using some corporate entities in perpetrating his money laundering activities.
“Your Excellency, investigation is still ongoing and further developments will be communicated.”
