ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu

Former EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu

International groups write Buhari, say Magu not likely to get justice

If the panel cannot establish proven case of corruption against Mr Magu, the groups urged Mr Buhari to disband the panel and save Nigeria from local and international embarrassment.

byPress Release
November 15, 2020
3 min read

The former Acting Chairperson, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is unlikely to get justice at the Ayo Salami anel set to probe him, Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption group and its international partners have said.

In a letter addressed to President Mohammadu Buhari, the Human Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Global witness, Cornerhouse and Re:Common said the panel has spent more days than necessary without establishing any serious case against the former EFCC boss.

The group urged Mr Buhari to disband the panel and save Nigeria from local and international embarrassment, if it cannot establish a proven case of corruption against Mr Magu

It is the third time HEDA and its partners have raised the same concern in six months.

The letter signed by HEDA’s Chair Olanrewaju Suraju; Global witness Director, Simon Taylor; Cornerhouse Director Nicholas Hildyard; and Re:Common Director Luca Manes expressed profound concerns over the conduct of the judicial inquiry into allegations made by the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, that Mr Magu had abused his office when he was Acting Chair of the EFCC.

The group said it has no problem with the investigations but rather that ”the investigation has, from the start, been so deeply flawed and biased that impartial observers have long since given up hope of Mr Magu receiving a fair hearing.”

Mr Suraju said President Buhari should be aware that international anti-corruption campaigners now regard the panel as nothing less than a Kangaroo Court designed to witch-hunt Mr Magu and slow down the anti-corruption wheel.

“At almost every stage, Mr Magu has been denied due process. He was not provided with the allegations against him until 35 days after the Panel had convened. His lawyers have repeatedly been excluded from many of the hearings. Most of the witnesses were examined without Mr Magu being present. Witnesses have been allowed to testify without swearing to an oath of truth” HEDA and it’s partners said.

The group said Mr Malami has refused to comply with a subpoena ordering him to give testimony, on the dubious grounds that he was merely passing on complaints that had been made to him by others.

RelatedNews

Cabo Verdean court places detained Venezuelan diplomat under house arrest

How firms linked to ex-SGF Babachir Lawal were paid for grass cutting contract – Witness

EFCC urges court not to grant Maina fresh bail

How funds were diverted under ex-NAF chief’s watch — Witness

Mr Suraju said “We have no reason to doubt the integrity of the Panel’s chair, Mr Justice Ayo Isa Salami before his appointment; but he is just one member of a Panel that has been packed with Ministry of Justice and security agency officials who are among Magu’s accusers.”

Moreover, the groups expressed worry about reports that Mr Magu’s chief accuser, Mr Malami, has set up an in-house committee to write the Panel’s report.

“If true, this would be an insult to justice. We implore you to act. When the Panel was established on 3 July 2020, you gave it 45 days to report. That deadline has long since passed. The report was that another 60 days was granted after the expiration of the original 45 days. It is now more than 120 days.”

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

The group said it wondered how much longer the travesty would continue.

It said the panel has had its time, disobeyed the clear instructions to report by a specific deadline and should now be disbanded.

“If the Panel has not found credible evidence against Mr Magu, then it should say so. If it is too incompetent to write a report within the mandated time, then it should be wound up, and the public protected from further unwarranted calls on the stipend that Panel members draw” The groups said.

The anti-corruption groups argued that every day that passes with this matter unresolved is a day that gives succour to those who oppose the Government’s fight against corruption.

“We cannot overstate the damage that Attorney General Malami’s vendetta against Mr Magu has inflicted on the reputation of Nigeria and, indeed, your Presidency. It encourages the view that those who fight corruption can, with the connivance of senior government officials, be brought down or incapacitated through flimsy and totally unsubstantiated accusations of wrongdoing.” HEDA said.

The group urged President Buhari to be conscious of the fact that the era of United States President, Donald Trump, is drawing to a close adding that it expects the incoming Joe Biden Presidency to strongly resume the global fight against corruption.

ADVERTISEMENT

The group warned that the suspicious trial of Mr Magu and the implication on the fight against corruption is likely to be for US-Nigeria relationship, in particular around law enforcement and cooperation.

“Nigeria needs those of the calibre of Mr Magu to be at the forefront of the fight against corruption, not side-lined because he insists that no-one should be beyond the reach of the law. Without Magu’s leadership, as the High Court in London recognised, the P&ID case would likely have been decided in P&ID’s favour. With Eni now taking Nigeria to the International Centre for Settlement of Investor Disputes for declining (rightly) to convert OPL 245 to an Oil Mining License, the restoration of Magu to his office is of paramount importance.”

HEDA said without Mr Magu, Nigeria can only be handicapped in resisting Eni’s bullying.

The group urged President Buhari to take firm decisions to restore the diminishing reputation of the country in her fight against corruption.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (5)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Billionaire pastor, accused of fraud, flees South Africa

Next Post

Budget 2021: Again, Nigeria’s proposed budget fails to meet key agric funding treaty

Press Release

Press Release

More News

Sunday Igboho [PHOTO: BBC Pidgin]

New twist in Oyo crisis as Miyetti Allah seeks Sunday Igboho’s arrest

January 23, 2021
National Assembly Complex

National Assembly postpones resumption

January 23, 2021
FILE: President Mohammadu Buhari (right) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left) President Mohammadu Buhari (right) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left)

Amidst recession, Buhari to spend highest amount on Presidential Villa since assuming office

January 23, 2021
Nigerian police launches 'Rescue Me' app

Insecurity: Nigerian police launches ‘Rescue Me’ app

January 23, 2021
Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

El-Zakzaky’s wife’s COVID-19 status not yet confirmed – Kaduna Prison

January 23, 2021
Senator Ted Cruz [PHOTO CREDIT: @SenatorTedCruz]

Nigerians, Americans, others mock US senator for ignorant view about Paris Accord

January 22, 2021
Next Post
President Muhammadu Buhari presiding over the 23rd virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. [PHOTO CREDIT: @theasovilla]

Budget 2021: Again, Nigeria's proposed budget fails to meet key agric funding treaty

Nigerian journalists in an interview session[Photo: The Standard]

Nigerian women journalists elect new leaders

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.