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Tag: Justice Salami-led panel

  • Malami summoned to give evidence in ongoing Magu trial

    Malami summoned to give evidence in ongoing Magu trial

    The attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has been summoned by Justice Ayo Salami-led panel to appear as key witness in the ongoing probe of Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ibrahim Magu is facing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry for alleged abuse of office and mismanagement of Federal Government recovered assets and finances from May 2015 to May 2020.

    Recall that Magu until his ouster, reportedly had series of clashes with the supervising minister of the EFCC, Malami.

    In early July, Magu was compelled to appear before a panel at the Presidential Villa.

    Few days later, he was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari alongside other key senior staff of the anti-graft agency, who allegedly took part in the financial heist.

    According to the letter Justice Salami said since Malami wrote the petition, he should appear in person to give evidence.

    Part of the letter read:

    “You are commanded in the name of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before this judicial commission of inquiry at Abuja on the 31st day of August 2020 at the hour of 9’0 clock in the forenoon, and so from day to day until the above matter is tried for the purpose of giving evidence and tendering on behalf of the state his memo to the President against Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of EFCC, the subject matter of this inquiry.

    “The minister is expected to give evidence on his allegations against Ibrahim Magu,  to wit 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) and mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets.”

    Meanwhile, Magu’s lawyer, Wahab Shittu, has written to Justice Salami to compel Malami to appear and provide necessary evidence on the matter.

    “We hereby apply for the issuance of a subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum on the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to appear before this Judicial Commission of Inquiry to give evidence concerning his memo to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We believe that consistent with the fundamental principles of fair hearing as guaranteed under Section 36 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, our client (Magu) 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 Attorney General of the Federation, to enable our client raise issues concerning the allegations and cross-examine the Attorney General on the substance and credibility of his allegations against our client.”

    Magu also urged the panel to reinvite some of the witnesses who had earlier testified against him to appear in the interest of fair hearing.

    “The above request is premised on the fact that our client based on the instrument constituting this panel signed by the President on 3rd of July 2020 is the subject matter of these inquiry.

    “Our client is entitled to participate in the entirety of the proceedings including afforded the opportunity to cross-examine all witnesses in these proceedings.”

    “We will also humbly request for guidance on specific procedure, schedule and timeline earmarked for the defence to enable our client adequately prepare and call relevant and material witnesses/documentary evidence ahead of his defence in the proceedings.”

  • I will not fold my arms any longer, says Magu as he denies misappropriation of recovered NNPC funds

    I will not fold my arms any longer, says Magu as he denies misappropriation of recovered NNPC funds

    Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that he will henceforth reply every attack launched against him.

    This was contained in a statement released by his lawyer, Wahab Shittu while denying the misappropriation of funds recovered from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

    Magu averred that the allegations he is currently facing were never brought before the panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the activities of the EFCC under him.

    The statement read;

    ”Take notice that, our client can no longer fold his hands in the face of these sustained malicious attacks to prejudge him in the public space. Our client will henceforth, point by point reply to all false allegations orchestrated against him in the public space on a daily basis as well as present his comprehensive defense for the world to see. 

    ”This is without prejudice to the willingness of our client to defend himself in the ongoing proceedings at the Presidential Investigation Panel.

    “The truth of the matter is that well over N329 billion recovered by EFCC under our client’s watch was remitted directly into NNPC dedicated accounts via Remita under a special arrangement endorsed by NNPC, EFCC and the affected NNPC’s indebted marketers.

    “By virtue of the said special arrangement, NNPC had requested formally the EFCC to recover the said amount from the affected NNPC’s marketers who were expected to pay such funds directly to NNPC while NNPC, in turn, confirmed receipt of such payments to EFCC.

    “Therefore, EFCC never took custody of any of the recovered funds and so, the question of misappropriation of such funds by EFCC or our client could not have arisen as falsely published.

    “Our client has never been confronted with any such allegations purportedly arising from the panel’s proceedings. The story attributed to the panel which has become a recurring decimal, is a dangerous attempt to discredit the work of the honourable panel.”

    The suspended acting EFCC chairman, Magu insisted that allegations of him shielding some persons in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) from prosecution is a “falsehood from the pit of hell.

    He added that it is tendentiously wicked to suggest that he excluded major approving authorities from the criminal process.

    The suspended anti-graft agency boss said; “Investigations were painstakingly conducted by EFCC under our client’s watch. The matter has since been referred for prosecution. Charges have been prepared ahead of arraignment in court. 

    “Our client has no interest in shielding anyone found culpable from the long arms of the law. At any rate, time does not run against the state in criminal prosecutions. It is tendentiously wicked to suggest that our client excluded major approving authorities from the criminal process.

    “As a matter of fact, one Peter Hena, head of the FIRS coordinator support services group, who allegedly authorized the illegal payment is one of those listed to be arraigned. The case was properly investigated and professionally vetted with our client deploying no influence whatsoever on the outcome.”

  • Interest on recovered N550bn was re-looted under Magu, Presidential Investigation panel reveals

    Interest on recovered N550bn was re-looted under Magu, Presidential Investigation panel reveals

    The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has been alleged by the Presidential Panel investigating the activities of the anti-graft agency that the commission under Magu re-looted some of the recovered loot.

    This was made known by the presidential panel after probing the federal government assets recovered by the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020.

    The Presidential Panel in its final report disclosed that investigations showed that the interest on the N550 billion recovered by the agency under Magu “has been re-looted”.

    The panel in its report also said there is a difference of N39 billion between EFCC’s deposits in the bank and what the agency said it recovered.

    The report in part reads

    “It is quite disturbing that conflicting figures are being circulated in the public space by EFCC as the amount of recovered funds. For Foreign currency recoveries, EFCC reported a total naira equivalent of N46,038,882,509.87, while the naira equivalent of the foreign currency lodgment were N37,533,764,195.66, representing a shortfall of N8,505,118,314.21.

    These inconsistencies cast a serious doubt on the accuracy of figures submitted by the EFCC. It is the committee’s view that the EFCC cannot be said to have fully accounted for cash recoveries made by it.

    While EFCC reported total Naira recoveries of N504,154,184,744.04, the actual bank lodgments were N543,511,792,863.47. These discrepancies mean that EFCC’s actual lodgment exceeded its reported recoveries by N39,357,608,119.43.

    It must be pointed out that the discrepancy of more than thirty nine billion naira does not include interest accrued in this account since it was opened. It therefore cast serious doubt on the credibility of the figures and means that substantial amount of money has not been accurately accounted for.

    Failure to report on the interest on actual lodgments clearly establishes that interest element of over N550 billion has been re-looted relating to the period under review.

    This is an apparent case of manipulation of data in a very brazen and unprofessional manner and this has greatly eroded the public confidence in the anti-corruption efforts.” the panel’s report states

    According to report, the panel also revealed how the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) investigation “exposed acts of corruption and money laundering” against some EFCC officials, including Magu.

    “The NFIU reports established that the Acting Chairman has been using different sources to siphon money from the EFCC, and in some cases collecting bribes from suspects.

    The report has shown that a particular Bureau de Change, owned by Ahmed Ibrahim Shanono linked to the Acting Chairman based in Kaduna has more than 158 accounts and has been receiving huge sums of funds.” the report states

    An investigation into Magu’s activities commenced on Monday, July 6. This was after the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami wrote a letter to the President asking for Magu’s dismissal. Malami in the letter accused Magu of re-looting recovered funds, insubordination among other offenses.

  • Magu reportedly quizzed over 380 houses, 7 crude oil-laden ships, N37bn assets

    Magu reportedly quizzed over 380 houses, 7 crude oil-laden ships, N37bn assets

    Justice Salami-led presidential panel reportedly grilled and requested that suspended acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Wednesday, July 8 to account for 380 houses and seven vessels loaded with crude oil.

    Magu was also grilled on disposal of assets worth N37 billion by Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential panel.

    Magu was reportedly grilled over weighty allegations levelled against him by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    WITHIN NIGERIA reported that the suspended Chairman of the anti-graft agency was arrested by detectives in Abuja on Monday.

    It was learnt that the suspended EFCC boss was grilled on cash discrepancies said to be N539 billion realised from the sale of seized assets and N504 billion declared by the commission on Tuesday.

    Ibrahim Magu was reportedly grilled on the ground floor of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Area 10, Abuja and it was also learnt that the AGF raised about 20 allegations against him.

    According to a presidential source, the interrogation of the suspended anti-graft boss was being done to give him the opportunity to clear himself of the weighty allegations.

    Magu’s lawyer reportedly joined him as he was being interrogated by the panel.