By Adesina Soyooye
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the affairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, under its suspended, Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has summoned the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to appear before it.
Malami was summoned by the seven-man Panel, headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ayo Salami, to appear before it as a star witness.
It is not known if the Panel had planned to invite Malami, or if it was compelled to do so, but Malami was invited 24 hours after a letter written by Magu’s Counsel, Wahab Shittu, to the Chairman of the Panel, was made public.
Dated September 4, 2020, Magu had asked the Panel to subpoena Malami before the Panel to enable him, Magu, interrogate Malami. He said he wanted to cross-examine Malami, so as to watch Malami prove his allegations against him, Magu.
Magu’s problem stemmed from a damning letter written to President Buhari by Malami, against Magu, alleging official misconduct, insubordination, and corruption against Magu.
Magu was brought before the Panel on July 21, after being intercepted on his way to the Force Headquarters. He was subsequently detained for nine days, and suspended from office.
The Panel has since been sitting for weeks, and inviting witnesses. Magu had cried foul over some of the witnesses, especially, those he said had issues before the EFCC. He had also decried not being given copies of the petitions against him, and the Terms of Reference of the Commission.
He said he was not happy not being allowed to interrogate the witnesses, describing the alleged situation as unfair to him.
He, also, blamed Malami for, atimes, the slow pace of work at the EFCC, accusing him of interference.
On September 4, Shittu wrote to Salami, asking him to subpoena Malami. The letter was made public on September 7 and, on September 8, the Panel invited Malami to appear as a star witness.
Both men will now have the opportunity to confront each other. Malami is the supervising Minister of the EFCC.
The strong speculation is that with Malami’s invitation to appear before the Panel, the end of the proceedings of the Panel may be coming to an end. Meaning that Magu would soon know his fate.
What will it be?
Will he be found guilty, and finally sacked from the EFCC?
Or will he be found innocent, vindicated, and asked to go back to office? Or be asked to go back to his constituency, the Police? How will the Czar end?
Time will tell.
