Magu: Malami indicates readiness to appear, testify before Ayo Salami Panel, says judgement against P&ID victory for Nigeria

The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), has expressed his readiness to appear and testify before the Ayo-Salami Panel investigating the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), whenever invited and if the need arises.

According to the statement issued by his Media Aide, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, on Wednesday 9th September, 2020, Malami made this known on Arise Television’s The Morning Show programme broadcast earlier same day.

With Malami, Arise TV brought up discussion on recent developments related to the Nigeria’s arbitration on the embattled P&ID contract agreement and it was while that was on that he indicated his interest to speak up on Magu.

He said the favourable judgement against P&ID at UK Court is victory for Nigeria.

Few days ago, Malami appearing via skype on Channels Television Politics Today had declined different attempts to make him speak on Magu, insistently saying it was not his place to discuss it on the media.

Speaking with Arise TV on Wednesday he said, “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 whatever investigation taking place locally or internationally”.

“For your information I have signed and executed around eight witness statements before the Commercial Court in UK which translated to the victory we are celebrating today.

He continued, “So, the idea of testimony, the idea of appearance of the Office of the Attorney-General 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 unraveling the truth associated with an issue under consideration is not new. I will in no way exercise any restraints as per as honoring an invitation for the purpose of supporting any
inquiry.”

The statement added, “So, if Ayo Salami Panel invites Abubakar Malami, SAN as a person or the Attorney-General 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 cross-examined within the context of the rule of law”.

Malami said his position is 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”. He said that indeed has been an attribute of the government.

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.