The embattled suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has stated confidently that he will be reinstated back to Office, any moment from now,
Ibrahim Magu, who was suspended last week, by President Muhammadu Buhari, over corruption allegations levelled against him at the ongoing proceedings of the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Investigative Panel, said that the charges levelled against him were trumped up.
Magu spoke through his Lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, who said that he had Magu’s instruction to give an update on the probe to Nigerians.
His words: “I have the instruction of Mr. Magu, to tell Nigerians that he is not against the ongoing probe.
“Mr. Magu asked me to tell Nigerians that he is not against the probe. The allegations against him are trumped up. He strongly believes that his name will be cleared, and he will be reinstated back to Office.”
Meanwhile, Shittu on behalf of Magu, sent a letter to the Panel, denying a series of allegations reported in the Media.
Specifically, he denied giving N4 billion, to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and giving N28 million to Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, SAN.
Earlier, both Osinbajo and Falana had separately denied the allegations.
The letter titled: ‘Publications prejudicial to the proceedings of this honourable panel’, was sent to the Panel on Thursday.
He stated: “The charges against our Client are trumped-up allegations, designed to tarnish his image, and rubbish the credibility and image of the EFCC, which has been stellar and outstanding under our Client’s watch.
“Based on the above circumstances, our Client was not given adequate time and facilities for his defence, and his demand for a copy of the allegations against him has not been honoured till date.
“We appeal to the Honourable Panel, to consider the above and uphold the fundamental rights to fair hearing of our Client.”
On the allegation of giving N4 billion to Osinbajo, the letter read: “Our client strongly denies this falsehood against the respected Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our Client has never given the sum of N4 billion, or any sum at all, to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as wrongly reported.”
He also described the allegation of giving N28 million to Falana, as “complete fabrication”.
He stated: “Our Client never gave N28 million or any amount, to Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, as maliciously reported.
“Our Client also denies any link with a Kaduna-based Bureau de Change Operator, as alleged.”
Shittu stated clearly that Magu “confirms that his house was searched last Monday, in his absence, while in custody, but no incriminating evidence was found. It is untrue as reported that some dollars and expensive jewellery and wristwatches were found. Our Client states that the search into his house did not reveal any incriminating evidence or materials. The cars removed from his residence were official vehicles assigned to our Client as Acting Chairman of the EFCC.”
The letter also stated that Magu had not been confronted with alleged illegal foreign exchange transactions, and that “no such report was tendered by the NFIU in any proceedings before this Panel, involving him till date”,
It added: “Our Client states categorically, that the maximum forex transactions he has been involved in is the sum of $10,000 till date.
“Our Client also wishes to place on record that he has no link with a Kaduna-based Bureau de Change Operator, as erroneously reported in the publication.”
On the alleged N573 million Dubai property, his Lawyer said that the allegation “is outright falsehood, and is denied by our Client in unmistakable terms”.
The letter also denied the allegation of diversion of interest on recovered assets, saying: “Our Client states that all recovered funds are lodged in the TSA Account, with the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
More later…
