The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has backpedaled, writing a letter to the Presidential panel, probing the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, that he will no longer testify after boasting he would.
This was disclosed on Wednesday during the sitting of the panel when Justice Ayo Salami read out a letter from Malami stating that he will no longer appear.
Mr. Malami told the panel, led by Salami, that he will not be able to appear before the panel because of the privileges of his office.
The AGF had recently boasted that he would testify if invited.
Magu’s legal team, led by Mr. Wahab Shittu, had subpoenaed Malami, demanding that he appear before the panel to substantiate the allegations he leveled against their client.
One of the lawyers to the suspended EFCC chairman, Tosin Ojaomo, told the Press that they were all shocked when Justice Salami read out the letter.
He said, “We were all gathered at the Presidential Villa for the day’s proceedings when Justice Salami read out a letter from the AGF. The AGF stated that he would not be able to testify because his constitutional role does not include testifying. He said his duty was to prosecute and file charges.
“I was shocked because Section 174 of the constitution does not give the AGF such privileges. Isn’t it funny that the AGF who levelled a series of allegations against Magu is now refusing to substantiate the allegations that emanated from his office?”
