Magu: PDP raises concerns over integrity of probe

The Peoples Democratic Party has raised concerns over the integrity of the ongoing probe of the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu by the Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel.

The party said its concerns stem from an alleged boast by Magu’s legal counsel, Wahab Shittu, that his client will be cleared of allegations against him and reinstated.

This was contained in a statement titled: “Fraud Allegations: PDP Tasks Presidential Panel over Magu’s Boast of Reinstatement,” signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, on Friday.

The statement read in part, “The boast by suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, that he would be cleared and reinstated despite the allegations against him, is a huge affront on the integrity of the ongoing inquest by the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Investigative Panel on the activities of the EFCC.

“Nigerians were shocked when counsel to suspended EFCC acting Chairman, Wahab Shittu, boastfully declared that he has Magu’s instruction to inform the public that “he will be reinstated back to office”.

Ologbondiyan noted that such an assertive statement by Magu’s lawyer holds more than met the eyes and portrays the Presidential Panel as well as the Buhari Presidency as having compromised the probe.

He said, “Our party hopes that this is not a case of corruption fighting back in a frantic effort to shield accused persons from prosecution.

“Already, the statement by Magu’s counsel has heightened public concerns that the probe have become a sham and that the allegations against Magu will eventually be swept under the carpet despite demands by Nigerians to prosecute the suspended EFCC boss in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The party wondered if Magu’s counsel was now informing Nigerians that the activities of the Presidential Panel, as well as the indicting memo by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, are all part of an orchestrated drama to facilitate Magu’s clearance at the Senate. Punch