TheCable

Zainab Abiola, counsel to Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says Ayo Salami, head of the presidential panel investigating her client, told her legal team that he regrets chairing the probe committee.

Abiola said this days after Salami declared that he does not regret his appointment to serve on the panel.

The former appeal court president had accused Magu’s lawyers of planting reports in the media that he regrets chairing the panel.

Magu is being investigated over allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement of recovered assets from May 2015 to May 2020. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In a sworn affidavit, Abiola said Salami described the probe as “embarrassing”.

“That: On the 25th of September 2020 at about 11.35 am. l was at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock with my client, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and our team of lawyers including Tosin Ojaomo Esq and Wahab Shittu Esq,” she said.

“That: Our mission was to defend our client and accord him legal representation, at the ongoing panel of investigation, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in order to enforce his fundamental human rights as a free citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That: On simultaneously entering the Panel Room upstairs, first floor, and seeing the Chairman Justice Ayo Salami (Rtd) and the members of the panel we all greeted each other most respectfully.

“That: The general atmosphere was one of expectation from everyone in the room that the AGF (Attorney-General of the Federation) would honour the panel’s invitation to appear before it.

“That: Soon after, the chairman of the panel expressed his regrets and said amongst other things the following specific words. ‘I regret chairing this panel, honestly. Since 2013, l retired and went back to my place. What is all this? It is embarrassing, very embarrassing’.”

Abiola said Ojaomo told Salami not to abdicate his role or feel embarrassed and “everyone nodded in agreement.”