CorruptionNewsNigeriaSalami Ends Magu’s Probe, Refuses to Invite Buhari’s CoS, Minister as Malami Rejected Invitation

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The Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel that was probing the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has rejected the request of the EFCC Boss to invite the president’s Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari; the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas.

Others who were expected to appear before the panel included a former Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde; the Director-General of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Modibbo Hamman-Tukur; EFCC’s Acting Director, Directorate of Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Management, Mr Aliyu Yusuf; an EFCC lawyer, Bala Sanga; and a former EFCC official, Isa Dongoyaro.

It has earlier been reported that the Salami-led panel had drafted a subpoena addressed to the naval chief, minister and others to appear.

However, the investigation revealed that the panel made a U-turn and decided not to invite them anymore following the refusal of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to honor the invitation.

The lawyer to Magu, Mr. Tosin Ojaomo, said the suspended EFCC boss did not have the chance to properly defended himself since the panel rejected his appeal to invite those who would have been able to explain the allegations against him.

Ojaomo disclosed that the panel had closed its probe and was gathering its report which would soon be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, “Justice Salami refused to subpoena those we asked him to serve. He had drafted subpoenas to the chief of naval staff, minister of defence, chief of staff to the President, the DG NFIU, the AGF and Lamorde.

“I am sure he refused to issue the subpoenas because of the way the AGF refused to come forward. So, we have closed our defence and I am sure the report would be submitted anytime from now.

“Magu was forced to defend himself without any witness of his coming forward. But no one accused Magu of stealing. In fact, those who have pending cases in court only asked that the charges filed against them be withdrawn.”

The panel sat for three months, summoned at least 50 persons, including activist Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN); General Overseer, Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry, Prophet Emmanuel Omale; senior advocate, Godwin Obla; Managing Director of First City Monument Bank, Adam Nuru; as well as several government officials.

President inaugurated the seven-man panel on July 3, 2020, given it 45 days to round off its activities and submit its report.

The President listed the seven members of the panel to include Salami (North-Central); Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Michael Ogbezi (South-South); a representative of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Muhammad Babadoko (North-Central); and Hassan Abdullahi from the Department of State Services (North-Central).

Others are Muhammad Shamsudeen from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (North-West), Douglas Egweme from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (South-East) and Kazeem Atitebi (South-West), who serves as the secretary.

The President later gave the panel an additional six weeks to conclude its probe.

In the cause of the questioning, the former EFCC boss was detained for 10 days at the beginning of the sitting of the panel, he was later released.

Magu was later suspended from the office with other 12 senior officials of the commission, including the Secretary of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede.

Bada Yusuf Amoo (Correspondent)

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