By Adesina Soyooye
Suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Magu, wants to interrogate Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Magu was intercepted on his way to a meeting at the Force Headquaters, and taken before a Judicial Panel of Inquiry, set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the affairs of the EFCC under him.
Magu’s problems began when Malami wrote a damnimg letter to the President alleging corruption and insubordination on the part of Magu in the running of the EFCC.
He has since been suspended from office by the Probe panel headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ayo Salami.
Since the probe began, Magu has been crying foul, and alleging unfairness on the part of the Panel. He says he has not been given a copy of the many allegations against him. He decries the appearance, before the Panel, of those he says have cases before the EFCC. He accuses the Media of publishing untrue proceedings from the Panel. He says he has not been well treated by either the Panel, or a section of the Media.
Members of the Public had expected that the Panel ought to have submitted its report by now. But, it’s been dragging, obviously, over the work load , and the sensitivity of the issues at hand.
Last week, the Panel, reportedly, asked for another 45 days to round up its business. But fearing he could be short-changed if the Panel rounds up without him confronting his main accuser, Magu has told the Panel to give him the opportunity to cross-examine Malami.
He always held the opinion that Malami is a stumbling block in the fight against corruption.
On September 4, Magu wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Panel, asking to be given the opportunity to cross-examine his nemesis, Malami. He asked the Panel to subpoena Minister Malami to enable him cross-examine him.
Whether Magu will be granted the opportunity to do that, is left at the discretion on the members of the Panel and the Chairman.
But, following is Magu’s letter to the Panel, signed on his behalf by his Counsel, Wahab Shittu.
It is addressed to the Chairman.
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,
RE- FLAGRANT ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE AND OTHER INFRACTIONS COMMITTED BY MR. IBRAHIM MAGU, ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) BEING EXTRACTS OF PENDING PETITIONS- REQUEST TO ISSUE A SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM AND AD TESTIFICANDUM ON THE HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
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 hereby apply for the issuance of a Subpoena Ad Testificandum and Subpoena Duces Tecum on the Honourable 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 in connection with the subject matter of this inquiry titled; “FLAGRANT ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE AND OTHER INFRACTIONS COMMITTED BY MR. IBRAHIM MAGU, ACTING CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) BEING EXTRACTS OF PENDING PETITIONS”.
Section 5(c) of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 2004 dealing with the Powers of the tribunal with regard to conduct of proceedings reads as follows;
“the power to summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the tribunal to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession, subject to all just exceptions. Summonses issued under this paragraph may be in Form A in the schedule to this act and shall be served by the police or by such person as the members may direct”
Section 6 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 2004 dealing with the Powers of the Chairman to issue summons, etc. reads as follows;
“Where more members than one constitute a tribunal, the chairman shall have power on behalf of the tribunal all such summonses, subpoenas and other processes and make such necessary appointments as may be required under this Act either before or during the inquiry until the submission of the tribunal’s final report”
In the referred memo widely circulated in the social media which triggered these proceedings, the Honourable Attorney General submitted amongst others as follows;
“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”
The Honourable Attorney General further said;
“Mismanagement of Recovered Assets and Diversion for Personal Enrichment”
“The Acting Chairman has also neglected and refused blantantly to comply with the Regulations on the Management of Recovered Assets,2019”
“The Acting Chairman does not want a proper and transparent procedure for the management of assets as directed by your Excellency through me”
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 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 Honourable Attorney General of the Federation) to enable our client raise issues concerning the allegations and cross-examine the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation on the substance and credibility of his allegations against our client.
Section 36 (1) of the constitution provides;
“In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality”
Please refer to SECTION 36 (6) (A) (B) (C) (D) CFRN 1999 which provides as follows
“Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to
- “Be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in details of the nature of the offence
- Be given adequate time and facility for the preparation of his defence
- Defend himself in person or by, legal practitioners of his own choice
- Examine, in person or by his legal practitioners, the witnesses called by the prosecution before any court or tribunal and obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court or tribunal on the same conditions as those applying to the witnesses called by the prosecution”
Based on the foregoing, we humbly request that the Honourable Attorney General who is the main accuser in these proceedings be graciously invited to give evidence in connection with the subject matter of this inquiry with specific reference to our client in the interest of FAIR HEARING.
We believe this request ought to be resolved before our client is called upon to enter his defence in these proceedings.
Most obliged my Lord.
With assurances of our kind regards, please accept our best wishes.
Wahab Shittu (ESQ)
WK SHITTU & CO
Nobody, for now knows what the report will be like, but there is,almost a consensus that Magu is not likely to go back to his high profile office.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the FG, is restructuring the Commission, wherby a Director General will be in charge of the day to day running of the Commission.
