Breaking news: Magu’s Lawyers Ask Presidential Panel To Recall Witnesses In Corruption Probe

 

A file photo of the suspended acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

 

The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has asked the Justice Ayo Salami-led investigative presidential panel, to recall the witnesses who testified against him in his absence at the ongoing corruption probe.

In a letter dated September 4 and addressed to the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, through his counsel, Wahab Shittu, Mr Magu said that the request to recall several witnesses was in the interest of fair hearing.

According to the letter, the suspended EFCC boss is the subject matter in the investigation which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in July.

Mr Magu is being investigated by the panel over allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement of Federal Government recovered assets from May 2015 to May 2020, among others while he was acting chairman of the EFCC.

The lawyers stated that based on the concerns raised, Mr Magu was entitled to participate in the entire proceedings and an opportunity to cross-examine all the witnesses.

Read the full letter below:

4th September 2020.

The Chairman,

Judicial Commission of Inquiry

For The Investigation of Mr Ibrahim MAGU

The Ag. Chairman of the EFCC

For Alleged Abuse of Office And Mismanagement of 

Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances 

From MAY 2015 TO MAY 2020

My Lord and Gentlemen,

RECALL OF WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED IN OUR CLIENT’S ABSENCE  IN THE INTEREST OF FAIR HEARING.

We remain counsel of choice to Mr Ibrahim Magu, the suspended Acting Chairman of the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) hereinafter referred to as “Our Client” and on whose behalf and specific instructions as we write as follows;

We write to humbly request, in the interest of fair hearing, for the recall of several witnesses who appeared and testified before this judicial commission of inquiry at the time our client was not allowed to participate in the proceedings and cross-examine such witnesses in these proceedings.

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 inquiries, to wit;

“INSTRUMENT CONSTITUTING A JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF MR. MAGU IBRAHIM, THE AG. CHAIRMAN OF THE EFCC FOR ALLEGED ABUSE OF OFFICE AND MISMANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOVERED ASSETS AND FINANCES FROM MAY 2015 TO MAY 2020”

This request has become necessary and compelling in view of the extensive scope of the terms of reference as follows;

“The judicial commission shall inquire into-

1. Investigate, verify, and review the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on audit of recovered assets as it relates to the EFCC, with a view to ascertaining the complicity or otherwise of the Ag. Chairman, Ibrahim Magu in the mismanagement of the assets recovered by the commission;
2. Identify avenues through which the recovered assets are dissipated and seized, recovered, forfeited (interim and final) assets are valued, managed disposed, or mismanaged with a view to ascertaining compliance or otherwise with extant laws, regulations processes, and procedures\
3. Review the existing procedures on the management of the seized, recovered, and forfeited assets (interim and final) and proffer standard Operational procedures for the management of seized, recovered, and forfeited assets;
4. To determine whether movable or immovable assets including funds or cash recovered during his tenure, whether locally in Nigeria or abroad are being kept safely in a manner as to preserve their original value;
5. Identify the location of all movable or immovable assets, funds, or cash that are under interim or final forfeiture based on administrative or orders of the courts; 
6. Identify the Bank accounts to which recovered funds or cash were paid into and whether generated interest from the recovered funds or cash were properly accounted for; 
7. Whether all the assets could be properly accounted for by the Ag. Chairman and take measures to; 
8. Confirm if any, of the assets has been diverted to the benefit of the Ag. Chairman, his family, relation, friends or favored staff; and 
9. Recovered any of such diverted assets, funds or cash, if any and recommend, if the funds should be returned back to the EFCC or appropriate government agency, entities or individuals.