Prof Sagay: Magu Could Be Prosecuted; Slams Salami; Rubbishes Other Panel Members |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption, PACAC,  Professor Itse  Sagay, has denied the statement   credited to him to the effect that the suspended  Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, could not be prosecuted.

Sagay, a known Magu supporter, also slammed  the Chairman of the Judicial Panel set-up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate Magu and the EFCC under him, beginning from 2015, a retired President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Ayo Salami.

Sagay criticised Salami for inviting those under investigation by the EFCC, to appear before his panel to give testimonies against Magu. He, also, rubbished other members of the Panel, saying he could not trust them to be neutral.

In a statement he released on Monday, titled: Press Release By Prof Itsay Sagay, Chairman of PACAC he said none of the members of the Panel appeared neutral, except Salami. He said they represented agencies which had made allegations against Magu.

Other members of the Panel,  among others  include a representative of the IGP, a representative of the DG of the DSS, a representative of the Ministry of Justice, and a representative of the NFIU.

Magu’s confirmation as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC was rejected, twice, by the 8th Senate over damning allegations on him by the DSS under the former Director General, Lawal Daura.

His primary constituency, the Police, had, also, recommended him for dismissal or retirement, but his job was saved by the Police Service Commission which recommended a lighter punishment over allegations of carrying official EFCC files home, then under the the Chairmanship of Mrs Farida Waziri. And the NFIU had also investigated him.

Apparently, Sagay’s statement was primarily, to deny what was credited to him to the effect that Magu would not be prosecuted.

Sagay: “What I said was that Magu could not be prosecuted before the Salami Report is out, and that Malami’s allegations are  just what they are: allegations in a petition.

“No one is prosecuted on unverified allegations as the PDP wanted, otherwise, it would be a lost cause from the very beginning.

“In my statement, I made it clear that Malami’s petition was just the beginning of a process that could lead to prosecution if solid evidence is established upon investigation.

“I did not say Magu may not be prosecuted. I am not privy to the politics of the Presidency.”

The Salami-Panel, all things being equal, is expected to submit its report within the stipulated 45 days given to it.