PANEL: Ozekhome tenders 215 exhibits against Magu

By Bartholomew Madukwe

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has tendered 82 pages written submission, 5 videos and 215 exhibits before the Justice Ayo Salami-led Panel, against the embattled former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

Ibrahim Magu

Ozekhome, who appeared before the Panel on Friday, explained that "This is because the Panel has informed me it is constrained by time and can therefore not take any further oral testimony from me as it had held on 28th July, 2020, when I testified for 2 hours and the Panel adjourned  proceedings to enable me make further oral testimony."

According to him, there are 42 bundles of files containing exhibits.

He stated: "My fresh written presentation today contains 82 pages, 185 exhibits, 5 videos and 33 recommendations made to the Panel on how to revamp, re-engineer and retool the tottering and hemorrhaging anti - corruption fight of the Federal Government.

"The document is titled: ORAL PRESENSENTION MADE BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ORAL INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE ON ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION RECOVERED ASSETS ASSETS AND FINANCES, FROM MAY, 2015 TO MAY, 2020, HEADED BY JUSTICE AYO SALAMI, JCA (RTD). BY SUMMONED WITNESS."

It would be recalled that previously, the senior advocate submitted six exhibits, including two video clips and some documents.

Two Senior Advocates, Chief Mike Ozekhome and Godwin Obla had separately appeared before the panel to give their sides of the story. 

During the session, which lasted about two hours, Ozekhome spoke about the alleged leadership failures of Magu and the investigative deficiencies of the anti-graft agency.

The senior advocate also made recommendations to the panel on the need for the EFCC to be more professional and engage less in “media trial.”

Speaking on his testimonies before the panel, Ozekhome had explained that his primary aim was not to settle scores with Magu, but to address the deficiencies in the EFCC with a view to helping it to actualise its core mandate.

The senior advocate noted that he submitted six exhibits to the panel, including two videos as well as a letter he wrote to the then acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on the urgent need for reforms and accountability as regards recovered loot.

Magu was summoned before the Presidential Panel led by retired Justice Ayo Salami to answer questions based on an 18 ground petition filed against him by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN.