Again, suspended EFCC boss writes presidential panel, criticizes secret proceedings

- The embattled EFCC boss Ibrahim Magu has again written to the presidential panel through his lawyer Wahab Shittu

- Magu in the letter faulted the secret proceedings of the Ayo Salami-led presidential panel

- The former acting EFCC chairman also decried the committee’s interpretation of its role as a Judicial Commission of Enquiry

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Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again written to the retired justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel.

Magu, through his counsel, Wahab Shittu, in a letter dated Tuesday, August 11, decried the investigative committee’s interpretation of its role as a Judicial Commission of Enquiry and faulted its manner of proceedings.

The suspended EFCC boss in his letter argued that despite the powers of the inquiry to exclude members of the public, it is not for the entirety of the proceedings.

Shittu speaking to Premium Times in a phone interview on Wednesday, August 12, said the restriction of the public to the proceedings should be on a few occasions.

However, Magu's lawyer noted they have not allowed members of the public, adding that his client’s constitutional right to a fair hearing is being violated by the panel.

The lawyer while accusing the panel described it's behavior as a violation of President Buhari’s letter and criminal.

“It is curious and worrisome that an administrative panel of inquiry headed by your Lordship having sat and taken evidence (both oral and documentary) in the past one month has suddenly metamorphosed into a judicial commission of inquiry.

“Specifically, our client and his counsel were excluded from the proceedings of 11th, 12th,13th of July 2020 amongst others in spite of presence at the venue of the sittings. In all the days of exclusion from the proceedings of the judicial commission of inquiry, witnesses were called, testified, interrogated and documents tendered and admitted in the proceedings in the absence of our client and his counsel,” the letter reads in part.

Magu had earlier written the panel demanding copies of the allegation of corruption and insubordination filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

He demanded to be served with a copy of the Presidential Audit Committee's report, the AGF's memo to President Buhari; and other individual petitions submitted to the panel.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the suspended acting chairman of the EFCC may soon know his fate as President Buhari has given the panel investigating him a deadline to submit its report.

The president has officially set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Magu. The commission is expected to submit its report on or before Wednesday, August 19.

Some witnesses have reportedly testified against the embattled EFCC chief while the latter was said to have been served with the allegations and terms of reference on Saturday, August 8.

Buhari suspends Magu as EFCC boss, Nigerians react | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng