Twelve directors of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been suspended.

On Tuesday, Attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, sent a letter to acting EFCC chairman, Mr Mohammed Umar, notifying him of the suspension of the directors.

Some of the directors affected by the action have been involved in investigating Malami — though the office of the AGF linked the exercise to the probe of Mr Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of the anti-graft agency.

Malami admitted to approving the sale of oil assets seized by EFCC, but said the sale followed due process.

Mr Kabir Akingbolu, a human rights lawyer, had said the AGF risked five years in prison for “illegally” approving the auctioning of the sea vessels holding crude oil and diesel.

Last week, the suspended acting EFCC chairman was arrested and marshalled before a presidential panel led by Mr Ayo Salami, retired president of the court of appeal, probing the operations of the agency under him.

He was later suspended and detained.

A slew of allegations has come to the fore since his arrest. He was alleged to have purchased a property in Dubai, United Arab Emirate using a pastor as a conduit.

He was also alleged to have laundered over N500 billion through a bureau-de-change in Kaduna.

Magu, through his lawyers, has denied the allegations.

The Cable