Magu’s Graft Probe: Malami Denies Contracting Lawyer To Implicate Suspended EFCC Boss

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has debunked the statement credited to one Victor Giwa, who had claimed that the AGF wanted him to implicate the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, in the ongoing probe of the graft allegations against him.

Giwa’s statement was titled “Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) Is Using Donald Wokoma, My Erstwhile Client Against Me For My Refusal To Testify And Indict Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of EFCC, At The Justice Ayo Salami Panel Investigating The EFCC Boss.”

But, the AGF, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, stressed that the allegation was simply geared toward denting his reputation.

He also stated that he had never contacted Giwa.

“The attention of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a flimsy allegation made by one, Victor Giwa, Esq accusing the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN of conniving with one Donald Wokoma to witch-hunt him over what he termed as ‘his refusal to testify against Ibrahim Magu’ at the ongoing Retired Justice Ayo Sami-Led Presidential Panel probing the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

“The Honourable Attorney-General never met Giwa and has never discussed any issue with the so-called Donald Wokoma nor asked anybody, personally or by proxy, to engage the so-called Victor to testify against Magu,” it stated on Monday.

Furthermore, it added that Giwa’s claim was false because “the Attorney-General of the Federation is never a member of the panel nor does it fall within the realm of the AGF’s authority to invite witness(es) for a presidential probe panel.”

Malami maintained that the allegation was part of the moves to distract attention from the federal government’s anti-corruption fight, of which he was part of the major players.

The statement further reads:

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation who has not set up the investigation panel to probe Magu is not saddled with any responsibility to procure witness(es) for the panel.

“The claim by Victor Giwa, Esq is therefore fictitious, unfounded and figment of imagination of mischief makers who want to create unnecessary attention and tarnish the good image of the Attorney-general of the Federation and Minister of Justice and labouring incessantly, these days, to falsely cast aspersions on the AGF’s hard earned reputation.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation hereby called the so-called Victor Giwa to come and substantiate his allegation with
details of the following:

1. When did Victor Giwa meet the AGF on the issue?
2. Where did Victor Giwa met the AGF on the issue?
3. How was the meeting?
4. Was it by proxy? Or the AGF sent a representative?
5. In what capacity was the representative, if any?
6. What were the terms of their engagement?
7. What was the claimed “offer”?
8. How was the so-called offer to testify against Magu made?
9. Who were the witnesses?”