EXCLUSIVE: Contrary to SSS claim, documents show how FCTA paid for Magu’s official residence

Newly obtained documents have shed more light into how the official residence of the embattled chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was paid for.

The documents showed that Ibrahim Magu’s apartment was paid for and furnished by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The additional details provide further backing to a fact-check published by this newspaper over the weekend that highlighted the falsehood in a security report the State Security Service forwarded to the Senate to frustrate the confirmation of Mr. Magu.

Further investigations have since shown that the SSS actually sent two contradictory reports; one recommending Mr. Magu’s confirmation and the other saying he would be a liability to the anti-corruption war if cleared for the post.

Nigerian senators last Friday declined to approve President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mr. Magu, who has been functioning in acting capacity since November 9, 2015, because he failed a purported security screening.

The SSS screening report, which was later sighted by this newspaper, made allegations of fraud, lavish lifestyle, insubordination and racketeering against the acting head of the anti-graft agency.

A particular claim in the report was that Mr. Magu suddenly assumed a lifestyle well above his take-home pay. The SSS said the EFCC chief paid about N40 million for an apartment in the exquisite Abuja neighbourhood of Maitama.

But documents obtained after the Senate’s refusal to confirm Mr. Magu show that the SSS might have failed to properly check its fact before presenting it to the Senate.

Mr. Magu’s apartment, which the SSS said was acquired with questionable proceeds, was actually paid for by the FCTA through a contract award on March 30, 2016.

The contractor, Valcour SA Nigeria Ltd., had entered a bid to furnish the apartment with a total of N43.8 million on March 29, 2016.

The firm calculated the bill as N9.8 million for furniture, N1.5 million for plumbing and N414,500 for electrical work and carpentry.

Other activities to be carried out in the apartment, according to the contractor, included purchase and installation of new television set and cable for N1.28 million, window blind for N1.18 million and security, utility and gym equipment for N1.5 million.

Twenty-eight million was budgeted for a two-year rent of the apartment which was described as ‘Rudolf House’ in the document.

In a letter dated March 30, 2016, the proposal was approved by the municipal authorities in Abuja.

The letter, with reference number AMMC/ADM/907, and signed by Ibrahim Gusau, Secretary, Tenders Board at Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, read as follows:

“I am directed to inform you that provisional approval has been given for an emergency award of contract to your company in line with PPA Section 42 (1b and 1f) for rent of residential accommodation for security operatives (EFCC) for two (2) years and furnishing same at the total sum of 43, 800.00 (Forty Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only with completion period of 6 (six) weeks for furnishing.

“You are requested to proceed with the service and note that the notification of provisional award is subject to notification by the Federal Capital Territory Administration Tenders Board.

“Accordingly, I am directed to inform you also that “the contract or any part thereof shall not be transferred, sublet or assigned to any person/body in any way.

“You’re requested to indicate in writing your acceptance or otherwise of the award and thereafter report to the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) for further instruction. The legal unit (AMMC) is similarly informed by a copy of this letter for their information and records.”

Valcour SA accepted the offer in a letter sent the next day, March 31. A total payment of N43,800,870 was made to the firm through a Zenith Bank account. Payment was made to the contractor through electronic transfer by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

See Documents Below: