The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday urged the Federal Government to arraign suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu in view of what the party described “the weighty allegations against him”.
The party in a statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said anything short of the arraignment would indicate compromise in the ongoing investigation against the embattled anti-graft czar.
The party also expressed reservations over reports by Magu’s counsel, Wahab Shittu, that the suspended EFCC boss would not only be cleared but also returned to his office.
Ologbondiyan described Shittu’s statement as a slap on the integrity of the Justice Ayo Salami- led Presidential Investigative Panel probing various allegations of corruption against Magu and the EFCC.
He said Nigerians were shocked by Shittu’s statement that he had Magu’s instruction to inform the public that he (Magu) will be reinstated back to office.
“Nigerians are unease that such assertive statement by Magu’s lawyer holds more than meet the eyes and portrays the Presidential Panel as well as the Buhari Presidency as having compromised the probe.
“Our party hopes that this is not a case of corruption fighting back in a frantic effort to shield accused persons from prosecution.
“The PDP wonders if Magu’s counsel is 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 drama to facilitate Magu’s clearance at the Senate.
“The statement by Magu, through his counsel, is therefore a direct slap on the integrity of our justice system and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“What Nigerians and indeed the global community expect is for the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion, to take immediate steps to arraign the suspended EFCC Chairman before a court of competent jurisdiction to defend and clear his name over the very weighty allegations that have been brought against him. Anything short of this will only signpost a huge compromise in the matter.”
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