By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
The Global Integrity Crusade Network(GICN), has called for caution in plans to extend invitation to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. AbubKar Malami (SAN), to appear as witness before the Justice Isa Salami Panel.
The Justice Salami Panel is currently probing allegations of corruption against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
GICN at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday explained why the AGF should not appear before the panel.
Executive Director of GICN, Mr. Edward Omaga, said it is needless for the AGF to appear before the panel, arguing that the panel had gathered enough evidence to do justice in its investigation.
He said since the proceedings at the panel began, the group decided not to dabble into the affairs of the panel, to enable the panel come up with a report that cannot be faulted by Nigerians because ”we trust the integrity of the former president of the Court of Appeal”.
Omaga said, ”There were reports that the Attorney General of the federation and minister of justice(AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) is to appear as witness before the panel and like we rightly stated earlier, we at GICN want the members of panel to be allowed to use their own wisdom in discharging their mandate without being teleguided by people who are supposed to be busy defending themselves by responding to allegations made against them.
”Already, the panel has gathered evidence which are enough to do substantial justice. In case those calling on the AGF to appear the before the panel do not know, the AGF has been playing a supervisory role on the EFCC and we make bold to say that the number one chief law officer of the Country has played this role creditably well, so there is no need to have him as witness before the panel,” he said.
