The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said he refused to appear before Justice Isa Ayo Salami-panel investigating the allegations against the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu because the invitation extended to him was against the provision of the Constitution of the Federation.
Malami stated his position in a statement on Thursday by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu.
He said his not appearing before the presidential investigative panel has no “ulterior motive.”
Malami’s complaint about Magu led to the suspension of Magu as acting EFCC chairperson and the investigation of his activities at the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020.
Malami has some weeks back said he would be be glad to testify before the panel.
But instead of appearing before the panel, Malami wrote to Salami stating the reasons for his refusal to appear before the panel.
According to the statement, “the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said the appearance or otherwise of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN to serve as a witness in any investigation should be a constitutional matter.
“In establishing properiety or otherwise of the presence of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice whose responsibility is to hold constitutional order one must root same within the constitutional provisions.
“The terms and wordings of invitation extended to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to Justice Ayo Panel of inquiry against Magu runs contrary to the Constitutional provisions.
“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is by the provision of the Constitution and extant laws empowered to serve supervisory role. In the case of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been discharging the role effectively.”
