Magu’s Lawyer Explodes On Panel, Says ‘Emperor Salami’ Using Hitler’s Gestapo Style In Democratic Setting

One of the lawyers hired by Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accused Justice Ayo Salami of adopting Adolf Hitler’s technique in the ongoing corruption probe of her client.

Zainab Abiodun also accused Justice Salami of using “military tactics” to probe Magu, who was recently suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari over allegations of corruption and insubordination by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Abiodun said she didn’t know there was a ‘prison cell’ in the Presidential Villa until Salami, whom she said had become an ’emperor’, allegedly ordered men of the Department of State Services (DSS) to lock up one of Magu’s lawyers for requesting access to their client.

“This is a democratic dispensation, you cannot bring military tactics, a Hitler’s Gestapo rule to this type of occasion,” Abiola told TheCable in an interview.

“The panel was set up to be public. How then did it become a private sitting with Emperor Salami? He has become an emperor. He told me personally that there is only one chair for a lawyer. So I said, if there is only one chair, send for more chairs now.

“He called the DSS, they were fully armed. So, we left. But the other lady, Fatimah, was bundled and put in a cell, in a prison cell. So, there is a prison in the presidential villa? Nigerians should worry for themselves.”

The lawyer further berated the Salami panel for allegedly infringing on Magu’s rights, saying: “If you see how Magu was just sitting there, like a sheep without a shepherd. Like a Christmas goat about to be slaughtered by Emperor Salami. Why would they refuse me access to such a fundamental probe? It is a nullity, very shambolic.

“They don’t have anything against Magu. Not a shred of evidence. The pastor they said took the money. FCMB has apologised in three national papers to Magu and the pastor. They also said Magu did not investigate the P&ID case and he was exonerated.

“What is the allegation? How can lawyers not be allowed to represent him? It is not as if we went alone; we were introduced by Magu himself. Did they imagine that it will be only one lawyer defending a man like that?

“Twenty-two allegations, 22 lies. The fact of the matter is that this is not a panel of inquiry. It is a Kangaroo contraction with Salami as the emperor.”