Magu: I will testify before Ayo Salami panel if invited - Malami
The attorneygeneral of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami has expressed readiness to testify before the Ayo-salami panel investigating the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, if invited to do so.
Malami in a statement by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu, said he was prepared to appear before the panel whenever he is invited. The minister was quoted in the statement to have spoken on “The Morning Show” aired by Arise Television on Wednesday morning.
While discussing the recent developments related to Nigeria’s arbitration on the P&ID contract agreement, Malami stated: “Within the context of the rule of law, I have a responsibility as the chief law officer of the country as attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice to assist in whatever investigation taking place locally or internationally”.
“For your information, I have signed and executed about eight witness statements before the Commercial Court in UK which translated to the victory we are celebrating today.
“So, the idea of testimony, the idea of appearance of the office of the AGF and indeed with the particular reference to Abubakar Malami before any panel, before any tribunal local and international for the purpose of supporting an investigation that will see to the establishment and unravelling the truth associated with an issue under consideration is not new. I will in no way exercise any restraints as per as honouring an invitation for the purpose of supporting any inquiry.
“So, if Ayo Salami panel invites Abubakar Malami as a person or the attorneygeneral of the federation, for any testimony or any clarification, for any examination or cross-examination for that matter, Abubakar Malami will definitely and gladly within the spirit and context of rule of law be there to testify and will submit myself to be crossexamined within the context of the rule of law”.
Malami said his position was to be submissive to the rule of law, maintaining that “the rule of law component requires that when called upon to clarify issues, be examined or cross-examined, Abubakar Malami will wholeheartedly be there and gladly cooperate with the inquiring institution”
The minister said that he has along the chain of arbitral process submitted to uncountable invitations and responded to uncountable requests to clarify issues and indeed executed uncountable witness statements for the purpose of putting the record straight and the case of Salami will certainly not be an exception.