Senate Summons Ibrahim Magu, Bank MDs Over Patience Jonathan Frozen Accounts

The Senate has summoned acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, to defend the role his commission played in getting seven bank accounts of Patience Jonathan frozen.

The upper legislative house also summoned the Managing Directors of some banks to appear before it for the same reason.

They are to appear before the Ethics and Privileges Committee, led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo East).

In the petition brought to the Senate Committee on behalf of Jonathan by Granville Abibo, SAN, the former First Lady complained that both the EFCC and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had at different times “unleashed terror, dehumanizing, degrading and despicable treatment,” on her and her relatives without justification.

According to the petition, the frozen accounts by the seven banks include those of Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development Investment Company and Transocean Property and Investment Limited.

The senators were also told that the account of her non-governmental organisation and the former first lady’s salary account were frozen.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Anyanwu, who issued the summons, however, insisted that the Managing Directors must appear in person as the committee will not accept any representative.

Meanwhile, Magu was absent from Monday’s hearing.

In a letter to the committee, the EFCC explained that Magu was out of the country, hence could not attend the meeting.

It added that he will be returning today (Tuesday) and against this backdrop, the Committee then fixed tomorrow (Wednesday) for Magu’s appearance.

In a related development, Patience Jonathan’s counsel told the Senate Committee that they had resolved their differences with the NDLEA and hence will like to strike their name from the petition before the Senate.