By Gideon Njoku
Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, CP Ibrahim Magu, has thrown a challenge at his accusers. “Come out and tell me to my face that you offered me bribe.”
Magu who has finally been given the opportunity to defend himself before the Ayo Salami Judicial Commission, of allegations of corruption, mismanagement of recovered assets and insubordination, told the Panel, Thursday morning, that he had never taken bribe from anybody all his life, and that whoever says he had given him before should come out and confront him before the Commission.
President Muhammadu Buhari had set up the Commission of Inquiry headed by a rerited President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Ayo Salami, to look into the affairs of the EFCC, after a damning petition against him to the President by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubarkar Malami, SAN.
One of his Counsels , Wahab Shittu, had asked Salami to subpoena Malami before the Commission to testify. Malami said he was ready to do so, and not afraid to appear.
Magu is, reportedly, allowed only two Counsels per day.
He began his defence on Monday, continued on Tuesday, and was represented by Shittu and Aliyu Lemu.
On Thursday, he was represented by Shittu and Tosin Ojaoma.
The suspended EFCC Acting Chairman was arrested in July, and detained for nine days. He had been facing a probe since then. With his defence kicking off, perhaps the end of the investigation is near.
