The suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has written the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating him, raising several issues against the panel.
Magu raised eight issues among which is the tribunal’s consistent private sittings without the media.
The suspended EFCC boss raised the issues in a letter dated August 11 written by his lawyer, Wahab Shittu and addressed to the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.
Other complaints he made in the elongated letter include failure of the tribunal to reveal its mandate and terms of reference.
He said the commission was inviting witnesses without his knowledge as the accused.
According to Magu, most witnesses are not placed on oath and his lawyers are denied the right to cross-examine his accusers.
Magu said he has been denied access to documents that form the basis of witnesses’ testimonies before the Salami-led panel.
According to the suspended EFCC Chairman, his arrest, detention, and suspension of 12 top officials of the agency were done without query.
“In summary, we have concerns regarding the legality of the honourable tribunal in the areas such as consistently sitting in private (camera) and not in public as given by applicable law.
“The tribunal has held proceedings and invited and entertained witnesses to the exclusion of our client and his counsel in violation of the applicable law on rules of fair hearing.
“The tribunal has sat and conducted proceedings in the absence of our client in violation of the applicable law and rules of fair hearing.
“The detention of Mr. Magu and subsequent denial of Mr. Magu’s detention by both your panel and the police.
“The suspension of twelve officials (investigators and prosecutors) of the EFCC without query, interrogation, or any other expected standard treatment for such an action,” The letter reads in part.
