Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has given reasons why he did not appear before the Justice Ayo Salami panel, that is probing the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
A statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu made available to Ashenewsonline Thursday evening, said the provision of the Constitution and extant laws only empower the Attorney General to serve supervisory role and further explained that his non-appearance at the panel was purely Constitutional and not based on any ulterior motive and that his action had taken over his supervisory role to that of taking sides.
The statement emphasised that the appearance or otherwise of the Attorney General to serve as a witness in any investigation should be a constitutional matter.
“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.
“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is by the provision of the Constitution and extant laws empowered to serve 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,” the statement said.
Ashenewsonline reports that section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004 states that: “The Attorney General of the Federation may make rules or regulations with respect to the exercise of any of the duties, functions or powers of the Commission under this Act.”
