IGP Ignores Magu’s Bail Request, Asks Him To Direct Application To Panel

The bail application sought by Tosin Ojaomo, Counsel to the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, may have hit a wall after the police asked that the application be directed at the panel probing the anti-graft boss.

The directive was given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP)  Mohammed Adamu in a letter dated July 14, 2020, in response to the bail application filed by Ojaomo for the release of his client.

Magu is under probe by the presidential panel headed by former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, over allegations of corruption against him.

He was invited by the panel last week Monday and was subsequently suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari to allow for an independent investigation in the allegations.

Since then he has been in police custody.

Adamu said Magu was not being investigated by the police and he is accordingly, not being detained by the force but by the panel.

The IGP’s letter with reference CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.489/171 titled, ‘RE: Application for bail,’ was signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa.

It read, “Your letter OOC/TOL/89A/07/2020 of July 10th, 2020 on the above-underlined subject, refers.

“The Inspector-General of Police directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating CP Ibrahim Magu (your client) and he is accordingly, not being detained by the police but by the Presidential Panel that is investigating the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, advises that you consider redirecting your request to the Chairman of the Presidential panel for appropriate attention.”