Salami Panel:  Malami  Denies Procuring Witnesses to Testify Against Magu

The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has said that he never procured witnesses to  testify before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel that is probing the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  Ibrahim Magu.

Malami who made this known in a statement issued and signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, on Monday, 24th  August, 2030, said he was not saddled with the responsibility to procure witnesses for the panel or conspired to witch-hunt anybody.

The HAGF said the attention of his Office was  drawn to “a flimsy allegation made byone, Victor Giwa, Esq”,  alleging that he connived with one Donald Wokoma to witch-hunt him for what he termed as “his refusal to testify against Ibrahim Magu” before Sami-led Presidential Panel probing the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The statement read, “the Honourable Attorney-General never met Giwa and has never discussed any issue with the so-called Donald Wokoma nor asked anybody, personally or by proxy, to engage the so-called Victor to testify against Magu”.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation who has not set up the investigation panel to probe Magu is not saddled with any
responsibility to procure witness(es) for the panel”.

“The Attorney-General of the Federation is never a member of the panel nor does it fall within the realm of the AGF’s authority to invite witness(es) for a presidential probe panel”.
“The claim by Victor Giwa, Esq is therefore fictitious, unfounded and figment of imagination of mischief makers who want to create unnecessary attention and tarnish the good image of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and
laboring incessantly these days, to falsely cast aspersion on the AGF’s hard earned reputation.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation hereby called the so-called Victor Giwa to come and substantiate his allegation with details of the following:  When did Victor Giwa meet the AGF on the issue? Where did Victor Giwa met the AGF on the issue? How was the meeting? Was it by proxy? Or the AGF sent a representative? In what capacity was the representative, if any? What were the terms of their engagement?  What was the claimed “offer”? How was the so-called offer to testify against Magu made? Who were the witnesses?

Modupe Ogundoro

Deputy Director 
Monday 24th th August, 2020