Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has again challenged the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to appear before the Ayo Salami-led investigative panel, and provide evidence that shows that he is corrupt.
In a letter to the panel, Magu’s counsel, Wahab Shittu, pleaded to the panel to invite Malami and make him to provide evidence regarding his allegations against Magu.
In the letter dated September 4 and addressed to the committee chairman, the lawyer said that the appearance of the AGF before the tribunal of Inquiry is to ensure a fair hearing.
He cited Sections 5(c) and 6 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 2004 and said that the tribunal has the power to summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the tribunal to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession, subject to all just exceptions.
According to him, the request is in compliance with Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Based on the foregoing, we humbly request that the Honourable Attorney General who is the main accuser in these proceedings be graciously invited to give evidence in connection with the subject matter of this inquiry with specific reference to our client in the interest of FAIR HEARING,” Mr Shittu wrote.
“Our client is entitled to be confronted with copies of allegations against him as well as the opportunity to confront his main accuser (in this case, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation) to enable our client raise issues concerning the allegations and cross-examine the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation on the substance and credibility of his allegations against our client.”
The latest letter is one of many letters written by the lawyer to the panel; demanding fair hearing and provision of copies of relevant exhibits against his client from the proceedings of the committee.
The AGF, had in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, had accused the suspended EFCC boss of corruption and insubordination.
On the strength of the complaint in Malami’s letter, President Buhari approved the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004), for the investigation of the activities of the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020.
Magu has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless.
Source: PREMIUM TIMES
