The suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has written to the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel to debunk allegations published in selected platforms during his detention. Magu, who was arrested on July 6 was released from detention on Wednesday. Magu, through his counsel, Wahab Shittu, maintained his innocence, claiming that the allegations raised in the media reports were fabricated and aimed at tarnishing his image and rubbish the credibility and image of EFCC.
Magu denied ownership of any property in Dubai, while refuting report that some dollars and expensive jewelries and wrist watches were found in his house during a raid by security operatives. He also said it was untrue that he gave N28 million or any amount to Mr Femi Falana SAN as maliciously reported. “Our client has never given the sum of N4billion or any sum at all to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria as wrongly reported.
“This allegation is complete falsehood designed to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Vice President and our client,” Magu noted on allegation that he gave money to Osinbajo. President Muhammadu Buhari constituted the Justice Salami-led panel holding its sittings at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to probe various allegations leveled against Magu, following petitions by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Department of State Service (DSS).
Malami’s memo allegedly accused Magu of diversion of recovered loot. The memo was said to contain 22 allegations against the embattled EFCC chairman. President Buhari had on Friday approved the suspension of Magu as Acting Chairman of the EFCC through an announcement by the AGF and appointed the agency’s Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar, to take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by Justice Salami-led panel.
A day after his suspension, the presidency opened up on the reasons Magu was being investigated. A presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, in an official statement issued on the suspension of Magu, said a series of documented allegations were made against him.
Shehu said there were grounds for a detailed investigation to be conducted , following a preliminary review of the allegations leveled against Magu and several other members of his staff. He said an investigative panel was therefore constituted in compliance with the extant laws governing the convening of such a body. Garba, who said Magu was being given an opportunity to defend himself, added that those insinuating that his probe signified the failure of the anti-corruption war had missed the point.
DAILY TRUST
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