The suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu, has again written to the retired Justice Ayo Salami-led investigative panel, faulting its manner of proceedings.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter dated July 3, 2020 accredited the institution of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the embattled former EFCC boss.
Magu in a letter dated August 20 written thru his counsel, Wahab Shittu, requested to get admission to materials, exhibits, case files, petitions and details of allegations in opposition to him in advance of his impending defence in line with the constitution provisions.
“Please refer to section 36 (6) (A) (B) CFRN 1999 which gives as follows; every character who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to:
“(a) Be informed straight away in the language that he is familiar with and in details of the nature of the offence
“(b) Be given ample time and facility for the practise of his defence.
“Based in the foregoing, we request beforehand of the defence of our patron earlier than this judicial fee of Inquiry for the following; copies of all presentations/petitions in opposition to our patron tendered in these preceedings.
“Access to all exhibits tendered in these proceedings. Access to applicable case archives and files tendered in these proceedings. Any different materials that will be applicable for purposes of the defence of our purchaser in these proceedings.
“Please notice that the foregoing request has emerge as urgent and compelling in view of paragraph 5 of the instrument setting up this judicial commission of inquiry.
Thanks “We humbly request you to be aware that in view of the timeline stipulated above and the need to make clear the length of the sittings and whether or not the appointing authority has extended the period, It is of utmost importance that access to the requested documents is granted to our patron and his counsel to make sure seamless complaints and the assurance of truthful hearing as enshrined in the 1999 charter of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“In view of the foregoing and the repute of His Lordship as a retired judicial officer heading this judicial fee of inquiry, we draw interest to this constitutional provision so that identical can be taken on board by using the honorable members as reflections on the legality of these proceedings and the determination on how to similarly proceed in the circumstances,” part of the letter reads.
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