A human rights lawyer and activist based in Awka, Anambra State, Agozie Benedict Okonkwo, Esq., has blasted the Chairman of PACAC, Prof. Sagay and Ibrahim Magu’s Lawyer, Oluwatosi, over their position on Malami (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, regarding the ordeal of Ibrahim Magu.
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In a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), Okonkwo said the duo “have demonstrated averred determination to avenge Magu’s ordeal on the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami for daring to touch what they considered very sacred to their interest which the AGF have desecrated.”
Okonkwo added that Sagay never liked Malami since the inception of Buhari’s administration and Oluwatosi is a lawyer to Ibrahim Magu that is why both of them are fabricating false stories to de-market Malami at all costs.
“While Itsey Sagay, my senior coleauge, has never hidden his dislike for Malami since the inception of this administration, Oluwatosin is the lawyer to Ibrahim Magu at the ongoing Presidential Panel grilling him over the allegations leveled against him in the AGF’s memo. Therefore, one will not be surprised if any of the duo would take such a negative position against Malami at this point. They wish to de-market him at all cost, including fabricating stories that are obviously lies. This is unbecoming of personalities who are supposed to help to shape the anti-corruption efforts of the administration rather than castigating for selfish reasons.”
Okonkwo described the allegations by Oluwatosi that the AGF has sat on all the SPIP files as ‘laughable’ and an attempt to mislead the public. He explained that AGF has forwarded the files to relevant security agencies for investigation to determine if there are prima facie cases to warrant prosecution. He therefore advised Oluwatosi, who was a prosecutor under the defunct Obla’s Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, to first of all clear his name for the alleged infractions on the activities of the panel rather than directing the AGF on how to carry out his duties.
“Oluwatosin Ojaomo, as one of the defunct SPIP Pprosecutors had accused the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of seating on all the SPIP files handed over to him on the directives of the President in September 2019, when he dissolved the SPIP and directing that he (AGF) should immediately take over all outstanding investigations and other activities of the SPIP.
“In response to Mr. President’s directives, the AGF being very mindful of all the corruption allegations leveled against the defunct SPIP which led to its dissolution, had set up a panel that looked into all files in question and distributed them to the appropriate security agencies who are verifying them to determine if there are prima facia cases established. It is therefore very laughable for anyone, including Oluwatosin, to attempt to confuse the public that there is any infraction against the AGF in handling those files.
“Mr. Oluwatosin should first try to clear his name of suspected infraction on the activities of that panel before attempting to direct the AGF on how he should do his job. As a lawyer, he should also realize that a poorly investigated case cannot be allowed to go to court by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation. So, he should be patient and allow the agencies verifying those files to complete their assignments.
On the part of Sagay, Okonkwo accused the learned silk of misleading Ibrahim Magu to disregard directives of the AGF and also antagonizing security agencies in embarrassing manner. He urged Sagay to rather applaud the efforts of the AGF
The statement reads in part:
“Sagay, on his part, have accused Malami of lukewarm attitude to the anti-corruption war; claiming that he doesn’t play his own part. As the AGF, Sagay said that he is supposed to coordinate common platforms involving the fight, common platforms where PACAC, ICPC and EFCC operate.
“Ironically, one of the AGF’s allegation against the deposed EFCC Acting Chairman was act of insubordination. Of all the other security agencies, the AGF only petitioned the former Acting EFCC Chairman. Events playing out have clearly shown that Prof. Sagay, as an elderly person, mislead Ibrahim Magu by encouraging him to ignore the directives of the Hon. Attorney General as the supervising authority.
“Various organizations and individuals had requested Mr. President, before now, to relieve Prof Sagay his appointment since he has outlived his stay under this administration going by his utterances and actions. He antagonizes government agencies in embarrassing manner at any slightest opportunity. We expected the elderly states man to have commended Malami for displaying courage and the political will to confront Magu for drifting from the anti-corruption program of the present administration.”
Okonkwo lastly urges Magu and his ‘cheer leaders’ to leave Malami alone and avoid dragging Malami to his woes
“There are other agencies fighting corruption in the country and none of them have been as controversial as EFCC under Ibrahim Magu. We are therefore asking Magu and his band of cheer leaders to leave AGF Malami alone and face his issues. Dragging Malami into his woes is not fashionable. At least, Nigerians now know the real Magu and those encouraging him with a false sense of super anti-corruption fighter. Prof. Itsey Sagay and Oluwatosin have done more harm to Ibrahim Magu than he can imagine.” Okonkwo said
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