News
Ibrahim Magu Kicks Against Sack Recommendation by Salmi-led Commission
The Salami-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has submitted an interim report to the President.
The report itself recommended that Ibrahim Magu be sacked.
This information was reported by TheCable and stated that the committee had asked the President to appoint a new chairman for the anti-graft agency.
A source with Punch noted that although the salami-led commission was still probing Ibrahim Magu, the testimonies and documents from witnesses so far was enough to make it recommend the removal of the suspended EFCC boss.
Another source told PUNCH that while government the government was yet to decide on the matter, “the Salami panel has been sending interim reports to the President. Its latest report, however, recommends Magu’s sacking from the EFCC and possible prosecution.”
Nothing that Magu is part of the probing process, the panel was able to send the report to the Presidency without waiting for Magu to open his defence.
On the other hand, Wahab Shittu, Ibrahim Magu’s lawyer said that Justice Ayo Salami (retd) the lead of the commission had informed him that no such report was submitted.
Noting that Magu was yet to open his defence, Shittu said that the panel recommending his sacking was unjust.
He said, “I don’t understand why we should be talking about a reaction to something that is blatantly falsehood. First, the panel is still calling witnesses. Two witnesses appeared before the panel today. So, if there were ongoing proceedings on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the panel has adjourned till Monday, if witnesses are still being taken and interrogated, and documents are still being submitted, what that should suggest to you is that proceedings are ongoing and have not been concluded. Does it (then) make sense for a report to be submitted?”
Shittu further added “Ibrahim Magu, my client, has not opened his defence and the panel has repeatedly indicated that he would be allowed to defend himself only after witnesses have been exhausted. So, somebody who has yet to defend allegations against him, can he be indicted?”
“Whether interim or final, you cannot issue the report without listening to all the witnesses and then take the defence. My reaction is that the story is planted by mischief-makers. A similar falsehood was published by a newspaper and I confronted the panel yesterday (Thursday) and the Chairman said how could they have issued such a report when they haven’t formally served him with the allegations and he told me to disregard the report.”
