Presidential Panel Rejects Magu’s Defence

Justice Ayo Salami led presidential panel  has rejected the defence report of  the embattled  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Former Boss, Ibrahim  Magu.

Naija News learnt that Wahab Shittu, Magu’s lawyer, had filed a defence based on the allegations levelled against his client.  However, in the latest development, disclosed to the Cable, the defence was rejected by the panel.

The source said the panel wondered why the lawyers came up with the defence when Magu had not even been presented with the allegations.

While in detention, Magu had requested to see a copy of the allegations to enable him prepare for defence. Magu’s lawyer had also asked that a copy of the report of the presidential audit committee which probed the EFCC between May 2015 and May 2020; a copy of the memo of Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), individual petitions submitted to the panel be made available to his client.

After regaining freedom, the former acting chairman of the EFCC had described the allegations against him as “nonsense”, saying he was shocked when he read them in newspapers.

Magu’s travails followed a memo by Malami who accused him of grave malfeasance. He was also alleged to have mishandled the recovered loot and sold seized assets to associates.

Meanwhile, Naija News recalled that twelve directors of the antigraft agency were suspended indefinitely.