Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has expressed his readiness to testify in the ongoing probe against Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This is coming after Magu told Justice Salami-led presidential panel to summon the AGF.
Speaking to Arise news on Wednesday 9th September, the Justice Minister said he would gladly give his testimony to the panel should the need arise.
Malami who reminded the panel of his ministry’s cooperation in past cases, assured Salami-led panel that Magu’s probe will not be an exception.
Malami said; “So, if indeed the Ayo Salami panel invited Abubakar Malami as a person all the agf in the person of Abubakar Malami for any testimony, for any clarification, for examination or cross examination for that matter, Abubakar Malami will wholeheartedly, gladly within the spirit and context of the rule of law be there to testify, be there to be cross-examined, be there to be examined within the context of the rule of law.
“Our position as a government is to be submissive to the rule of law and the rule of law component of it requires that when we are called upon to clarify issues, when we are called upon to be examined, when we are called upon to be cross-examined, Abubakar Malami will be there and will gladly cooperative enquiry institution and that indeed was an attribute of the government that translated to the victory we are seeing today arising from P&ID”
“Abubakar Malami has along the line within the chain of the arbitral process, submitted to uncountable invitations, responded to uncountable requests for clarification of issues and indeed executed uncountable witness statements for the purpose of putting the record straight and the case of Salami will certainly not be an exception.”
It would be recalled that AGF Malami notified relevant authorities to probe the activities of Ibrahim Magu.
The suspended Acting EFCC Chairman through his legal counsel Wahab Shittu asked the presidential panel to summon his accuser.
Citing Section 36(a), (b), (c) and (d) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution, Shittu wrote “Based on the foregoing, we humbly request that’s the honorable attorney general who is the main actor in these proceedings be graciously invited to give evidence in connection with the subject matter of this enquiry with specific reference to our clients 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.’
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