Malami explains why he backed out of facing panel probing Magu

A week after he declared his readiness to face the Justice Ayo Salami Panel of Inquiry, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, has made a u-turn, and is explaining on Thursday why he did not appear before the panel probing the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

Recall Magu asked for an opportunity to confront Malami at the panel.

Malami, in a statement by his spokesman said his non-appearance “was purely constitutional and not based on any ulterior motive”.

Dr Umar Gwandu, speaking for Malami, said, “In establishing propriety or otherwise of the presence of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice whose responsibility is to hold constitutional order one must root same within the constitutional provisions.

“The terms and wordings of invitation extended to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to Justice Ayo Panel of inquiry against Magu runs contrary to the Constitutional provisions”.

Gwandu maintained that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is constitutionally to play a supervisory role.

“In the case of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been discharging the role effectively.”