EFCC: four groups write Buhari, say Magu can’t get justice from Salami panel
By Yusuf Alli, Abuja
Suspended Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu cannot get justice before the commission of inquiry probing the activities of the anti-graft agency, a Nigerian-based anti-corruption group – Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) – and its three international partners said in a letter to President Muhammadu.
Citing the conduct of the panel, the group said it has become obvious that Magu cannot get fair hearing from the Justice Isa Ayo Salami-led panel.
HEDA alleged that the panel has been “packed with Ministry of Justice and security agency officials, who are among Magu’s accusers.”
It also claimed that the panel has spent more days than necessary without establishing any serious case against the EFCC boss.
The group said Buhari should disband the panel, if it cannot do the assignment given to it.
Magu: Salami panel winds up, wants police out of EFCCThe letter was signed by HEDA’s Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju; Global witness Director Simon Taylor; Cornerhouse Director Nicholas Hildyard and Re:Common Director Luca Manes.
They expressed concern over the conduct of the judicial inquiry into allegations made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that Magu had abused his office as EFCC’s acting chair.
The groups said: “The former Acting Chairman, EFCC Ibrahim Magu is unlikely to get justice at the Presidential Panel set to probe him
”If the panel cannot establish proven case of corruption against Magu, the groups urged Buhari to disband the panel and save Nigeria from local and international embarrassment. It is the third time HEDA and its partners have raised the same concern in six months.”
The groups said they had “no problem with the investigations, but rather that the investigation has, from the start, been so deeply flawed and biased that impartial observers have long since given up hope of Mr. Magu receiving a fair hearing.”
Suraju said: “President Buhari should be aware that international anti-corruption campaigners now regard the Panel as nothing less than a Kangaroo Court designed to witch-hunt Magu and slow down the anti-corruption wheel.
“At almost every stage, Magu has been denied due process. He was not provided with the allegations against him until 35 days after the Panel had convened.
“His lawyers have repeatedly been excluded from many of the hearings. Most of the witnesses were examined without Magu being present. Witnesses have been allowed to testify without swearing to an oath of truth.
