Abubakar Malami, minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF) says his non-appearance at Justice Ayo Salami panel probing the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was purely constitutional and not based on any ulterior motive.
In a statement by Umar Gwandu, special assistant on media to the AGF said the appearance or otherwise of Malami as a witness in any investigation should be a constitutional matter. The minister had earlier said he would appear before the panel anytime he was invited.
However, in a contrary move, Malami noted his appearance before the panel would be resolved by the constitution.”In establishing propriety or otherwise of the presence of the minister, whose responsibility is to hold constitutional order, one must root same within the constitutional provisions.
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“The terms and wordings of an invitation extended to the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice by Ayo Panel of inquiry against Magu run contrary to the constitutional provisions.
“The office of the AGF is by the provision of the constitution and extant laws empowered to serve a supervisory role. In the case of EFCC, the minister of justice has been discharging the role effectively”, the statement added.
