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Tag: Ibrahim Magu

Magu’s lawyer reacts to Bawa’s appointment as EFCC boss

A lawyer and counsel to suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tosin Ojaomo has reacted to the appointment of new anti-graft agency boss, saying justice has not been served regarding the probe of his client.

This statement was made by the suspended EFCC boss lawyer when he featured as a guest on a Channels Television programme on Tuesday.

Ojaomo said he was shocked by the recent appointment of a new EFCC chairman, when the report on the probe into Magu’s activities had not yet been released to the public.

Recall that Ibrahim Magu was suspended in July 2020 over allegations of mismanaging recovered loot, while he served as chairman of the EFCC.

However, earlier on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the senate to confirm Abdulrasheed Bawa as the substantive chairman of the EFCC.

Reacting to the development, Ojaomo said he expected the presidency to conclude all matters regarding the probe of his client, before further action on the suspension.

“Sincerely, this appointment came to me as a shock. This is because what I was expecting is that there is still an unfinished assignment which was pending. I was expecting that the issue of Magu would have been sorted out before moving to another step. But unfortunately, we just got this news today that a new chairman has been nominated by the president and his name has been forwarded to the senate,” he said.

“When we talk of justice, you know what justice is all about. As the acting chairman of the commission, he was suspended for an allegation which has not been proven against him, and at the end of the day, the report which everybody was expecting, to know whether the man has been found wanting or not, was not released and another appointment was made.

“Justice clearly has not been done in this matter to Magu because we’re talking of people’s integrity. Reputational damage has been done to people. It’s not just about about Magu alone; there are other people that were suspended at the commission. So, the integrity of all these people is now at stake as if their matter is now forgotten.

“In this matter, justice has not been done to the Nigerian people, because everybody was expecting to know the outcome of this investigation. There was a lot of news in the media and people have now been put in suspense as to the outcome of the investigation.”

In November, the Ayo Salami-led panel had recommended Magu’s sack as the acting chairman of the EFCC, and asked the president to appoint a new chairman in an interim position for two years.

When asked if the president’s appointment meant the report was not in Magu’s favour, Ojaomo said it would be speculative to make such an assumption.

“It will be speculative to say the report was not in Magu’s favor. Ordinarily, enquiries have been made in this country, and at the end of the day, reports are released and people are able to make their own independent judgement from the report of the investigation,” he said.

“But in this case, an investigation was conducted and at the end of the day, the report was not released and it’s all media reports that people are relying on.

“The government is accountable to the people. The government ought to let the people know the reason for this decision. It is normal everywhere and it needs to be done like that.”

February 17, 2021
Schoolmates of suspended EFCC chair, Magu vouch for his ‘incorruptibility’

The Alumni association of Yerwa Practicing Primary School (YPPS) has stated that the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu is innocent of all the allegations labelled against him.

Recall that a panel led by retired president of the court of appeal, Ayo Salami was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Magu over allegations of mismanagement of recovered assets.

The panel in its report which was submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari in November recommended that Magu be sacked and a new EFCC chairman outside the police force be appointed in an interim position for two years.

Ibrahim Magu, a police commissioner and former pupil of YPPS has denied any wrongdoing and insisted that he discharged his duties honourably.

In a statement signed by Al-Hasan Sultan, chairman of the association, Magu’s former classmates described the allegations as unfounded, claiming that they were cooked up to “tarnish his noble character”.

“It has now become pertinent for the above Association to express its concern over the consistent attacks and wide range of unfounded allegations levelled against one of its alumni, the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu,” the statement reads.

“We believe that the objective of these allegations and other unsubstantiated claims are targeted at tarnishing his noble character and crucifixion by certain predators, who were once investigated by his commission and are determined to ensure Magu’s downfall for purposes of undue relevance and selfish reasons.

“Since the inception of the Justice Isa Salami-led Commission of Enquiry to investigate Ibrahim Magu over alleged mismanagement of recovered assets, insubordination and abuse of office, we the alumni of this Association decided to give the panel benefit of doubt.

“This is because of Magu’s past record of being above board. But the recent happenings during and after the proceeding has compelled the Association to break its silence and demand through this forum, justice, equity and fair play in the entire proceedings and the outcome of the investigation of the panel.”

Members of the association said they have known Magu for a long period of time, and insisted that he is incorruptible.

“Certainly, there is no credible testimony more than the one coming from a childhood friend particularly school or classmate. Ibrahim Magu is one of our ambassadors who, over a period, has given us a cause to be proud of (belonging to this Association) and so, members of this Association are in a better position to extol the virtues and noble character of Ibrahim Magu whom we have been interacting with as colleagues, old school- and class-mates for decades, knowing the motto of our school (Honesty is the Best Policy),” the group said.

“Therefore, our submissions on this matter should be taken seriously and all advice be well heeded by the Federal Government. No doubt, Ibrahim Magu is a very good officer, hardworking and forthright and we can say without fear of contradiction that it is people like Ibrahim Magu and his like that are best fit to man institutions specialised in fighting corruption like the EFCC.

“Meanwhile, the good news and a thing of joy was that Magu’s integrity is still intact without blemishes or any shortcomings from his national assignment as acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“We wish to state with high sense of responsibility that the Ibrahim Magu that we know is incorruptible and will never compromise his job of fighting corruption by bending to any pressure.”

December 19, 2020
‘False asset declaration’: Magu finally appears before CCB

The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has submitted himself before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Abuja.

Recall that the CCB had summoned Magu over alleged failure to declare some of his assets.

The CCB requested Magu in a letter dated November 2, 2020 to come along with the certificate true copies (CTC) of the following: Acknowledgement slips of all your assets declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau since you joined public service. Copies of your appointment letter, acceptance, records of service and pay slips from January to May 2020. All documents of your landed properties, both developed and undeveloped”.

Magu through his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, had asked the CCB for an extension of time to enable him gain access to the relevant documents as required.

According to TheCable report, the suspended EFCC chairman was at CCB office in Abuja on Thursday.

TheCable also reported that Magu could not be attended to as the CCB was having CCB was having its annual lecture with its theme “fighting corruption for socio-economic development”.

Consequently, Magu was said to have returned to the CCB on Friday, December 4 where he was questioned for hours.”

When contacted to speak on Magu’s visit, the spokesman of CCB, Adetola Olusegin said: “I’m not in the position to speak about anything now.”

Recall that the CCB had earlier stated that it would prosecute Magu for allegedly failing to list dormant a bank account (First Bank) and a property in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, in his asset declaration form.

December 8, 2020
President Buhari reveals why he ordered the probe of Magu

Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari has revealed why he set up the Ayo-Salami presidential panel to probe the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

Buhari said he set up the panel because of serious allegations against the anti-graft agency.

Buhari further stated that his administration will cut off any stream that supports the growth of corruption.

These statements were made by the president while receiving the report of the panel headed by Ayo Salami, retired president of the court of appeal.

Buhari said his administration will cut off any stream that supports the growth of corruption.

He said the fight against corruption should be done without fear or favour, adding that no individual is bigger than the country.

“It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a Panel headed by the Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004),” he said.

”We recognize that there are more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, and we are prepared to go out to possess those lands by cutting off any stream that nourishes the seed of corruption and supports its growth.

”Let it be known that in the fight against corruption, no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian State!”

The president said though there is corruption at many levels of government, and nearly every stratum of our society, “the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touches on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes”.

“It is an abomination that strikes at the root, and undermines the Government’s anti-corruption programme,” he said.

”As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account (TSA), strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and signing unto the Open Government Partnership. A lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions.

”We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts her security challenges.”

November 20, 2020
BREAKING: Salami panel recommends Magu’s sack

Emerging report has revealed that the sack of Ibrahim Magu, a police commissioner as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been recommended by the Justice Ayo Salami panel.

The panel which submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday also requested the president to appoint the new EFCC chairman in an interim position for two years.

The panel also recommended that President Buhari should also look outside the police force in appointing the next chairman.

WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that the report of the presidential panel probing the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has been recieved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This report was recieved by the president at the council chamber of the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday.

November 20, 2020
BREAKING: Buhari finally receives Salami panel report on Magu

The report of the presidential panel probing the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has been recieved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This report was recieved by the president at the council chamber of the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday.

Recall that the panel headed by former president of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami was set up to probe the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020, when Magu was in charge of the agency.

Ibrahim Magu, a police commissioner was whisked before the panel on July 6 by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) after reportedly ignoring its summons.

He was suspended from office four days after his arrest.

November 20, 2020
EFCC: Salami panel on Magu submits report to President Buhari today

President Muhammadu Buhari will today receive a report of the probe panel he set up in July this year to investigate various allegations of wrongdoing against suspended EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

The panel has a retired Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami as chairman. Villa sources told Nigerian Tribune in Abuja late Thursday that everything was set for the President to receive the report in the late morning.

The source, however, declined to give details of the report but said everything had been tidied up Magu, a commissioner of police was first arrested in traffic on July 6 by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) and whisked away to the Villa, where the panel was sitting.

22-point allegations against Magu titled “Flagrant Abuse of Office and Other Infractions Against EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu” had previously been submitted by Malami to Buhari.

According to Malami, “the Acting Chairman of EFCC is not acting in the overall best interest of the country and the policies of this administration due to its mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets; diversion of recovered assets for personal enrichment; neglecting to investigate the P & ID case as directed by the President; flagrant disobedience to directives and to court orders due to the following;

“Final Report of the Presidential Committee on Audit Of Recovered Assets (PCARA): mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets: mismanagement of recovered assets and diversion for personal enrichment: an investigation of P&ID: failure to provide timely response on the investigation of cases/ individuals relating to legal/consultancy fees in The Paris Club Refunds to states & LGAs: threatening of judicial officers: and petitions against the acting chairman.

On July 10, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN announced the suspension of Magu from office. The statement issued on Malami’s behalf by his Special Assistant on Media, Umar Gwandu read in part: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Ag. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in order to allow for an unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws”.

November 20, 2020
Magu’s lawyer to Salami panel: Police officers can not be ousted from EFCC

The counsel to the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wahab Shittu has stated that the police can not be ousted from the anti-graft agency.

Ibrahim Magu, a commissioner of police is being investigated by a presidential panel headed by Ayo Salami who is a former president of the appeal court over alleged mismanagement of recovered assets.

In a statement released by Magu’s counsel on Tuesday, Shittu said his attention had been drawn to a media report that the Salami-led panel would recommend that the head of the EFCC should no longer come from the Nigeria police.

He also said it was reported that the panel would recommend that policemen should no longer be operatives of the EFCC.

This, the lawyer said, was beyond the panel as it has no power to make such changes.

According to Magu’s counsel, we had waited patiently for a rebuttal of this story. Unfortunately, the story has not been retracted, forcing us again to respond to the misleading report.

“As counsel of choice to Magu, our immediate reaction is one of shock that the panel could contemplate what is clearly outside its mandate for undisclosed reasons. Clearly, we are unable to understand how a judicial commission of enquiry constituted by law will arrogate to itself powers outside its statutory mandate including taking over the functions of the national assembly to amend the EFCC Act 2004.

“Our client, who is incorruptible and remains innocent of all the allegations levelled against him by his accusers, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in line with the EFCC Act.

“We wish to state with high sense of responsibility that if the media report on the matter is true, it is dead on arrival as the appointment of the EFCC boss is clearly spelt out in section 2(1)(a)(i-ii) of the EFCC Act 2004.”

He said for the avoidance of doubt, the law states that the EFCC chairman should be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of an assistant commissioner of police.

Magu’s counsel explained that it would appear that the panel is setting out to work contrary to the terms of its reference.

The lawyer wondered why the panel would “sit in private when the instrument signed by the president specified public sitting?”

Shittu, who sought to know who ordered Magu’s detention and why he was held for 11 days, accused the panel of calling in witnesses when his client had already concluded his defence.

He added that the fundamental principle of fair hearing to which Magu is entitled to has been violated.

November 4, 2020
Suspended EFCC boss, Magu criticises Salami panel on verification of assets

Ibrahim Magu, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has criticised the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the activities of the agency for verifying seized assets without the presence of his lawyers or himself.

Magu said it was unfortunate that he closed his defence about two weeks ago without being granted opportunity by the panel to call any witness to strengthen his innocence.

This was contained in a statement released by Magu through his lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu in Abuja.

Magu spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

According to the statement, Magu has nothing to hide, unlike the panel, which it claimed allegedly refused to give him fair hearing.

The statement said:

“Our attention has just been drawn to a sponsored and jaundiced story in which our client, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, is being portrayed in a negative light by Justice Isa Salami-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry.

“In the story, the panel was quoted as saying that Magu did not give satisfactory answers to its questions on recovered assets.

“The story had said the panel was embarking on verification of seized assets across the country in the absence of our client or his counsel, in spite of our client being the main subject of enquiry by virtue of the instruments establishing the Judicial Commission of Enquiry.

“It is an exercise in futility for the panel to conduct verification of recovered assets in the absence of Magu and his lawyers and thereafter proceed to write a report without clarification from him.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the media report, like the previous orchestrated stories against our client.

“But we are of the opinion that the timing is suspicious and there is the need to take up issues with the media report on the grounds that the reporter quoted sources close to the panel as the arrowheads of the story with a predetermined agenda.

“It is on records that our client closed his defence two weeks ago without the opportunity to call any witness to strengthen his innocence as applications to call witnesses and subpoena certain individuals, including AGF Abubakar Malami (SAN), were blatantly refused by Justice Salami.”

The statement said Magu had nothing to hide, unlike the panel that allegedly refused to give him fair hearing.

October 19, 2020
Magu’s probe deteriorates as panel walks out lawyers

Reports revealed that two lawyers identified as Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola and Mr. Aliyu Lemu were walked out by security agents from the sitting of Commission of Enquiry at the presidential villa, Abuja on the orders of Justice Ayo Isa Salami.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the two lawyers were part of the legal team of the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who is being probed over alleged mismanagement of recovered assets and abuse of office.

Eyewitnesses disclosed that the lawyers were ordered to be walked out at about 11:50am when Mr. Wahab Shittu who has been appearing for Magu stood up to introduce other members of the legal team.

But Mr. Shittu was reportedly interrupted by Justice Salami who insisted that only him would be allowed to defend Magu. He, thereafter directed the security agents to “bundle” out the lawyers from the venue.

Recall that Shittu, Magu’s legal counsel has appeared for Magu for the past two months and has repeatedly raised certain issues, including fair hearing for his client and the need to cross-examine witnesses who testified against Magu.

According to media sources from Magu’s camp, Shittu-led Prof. Abiola and Mr. Lemu to the venue of the panel yesterday because of the seriousness of the issues raised.

Sources also revealed that Magu’s counsel, Shittu introduced members of his team before the panel upon arrival at the venue before Justice Salami ordered that only Shittu would be allowed to represent Magu, insisting that other members of the team wiould have to leave the venue.

Attempts by Shittu and Abiola to explain the sanctity of legal representation for Magu were resisted by Salami and other members of the panel who refused to listen to their explanations.

Abiola expressed her disappointment with the conduct of the panel.

She said: “What happened today (yesterday) has highlighted the nature and manner the panel of inquiry has been conducting its sittings secretly against the presidential directive and the instrument setting it up, that it should hold a public haring. It is unacceptable and patently illegal.”

Abiola further expressed the fact that she was appalled by the treatment meted out to her, saying the development was unprecedented in the history of Nigerian legal system as even in the worst days of the military junta, people had the right to be represented by lawyers of their choice.

She expressed the need for Nigerians to stand up in support of their anti-corruption champions. Abiola also called for an end to the travesty and charade being conducted by the panel, saying its action may ridicule Nigeria in the international anti-corruption community.

September 15, 2020