The former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami has stated that lawyers to the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu were planting false news and spreading lies in the public space.
Justice Salami said this in reaction to reports that he regretted taking the job as chairman of the probe panel against the former EFCC boss.
Two lawyers representing Magu, Tosin Ojaoma and Zainab Abiola, had said that Salami expressed regret for taking the job.
“We all sat down as lawyers, after a little period, Justice Salami said he regretted working in this panel.
“As soon as the proceedings opened, Salami was full of regrets, he (Salami) brought out his handkerchief and said he is full of regret taking up the job. Then our team asked him, is it because the panel is yet to find evidence against our client, (Magu)?
“Mr. Salami did not respond; he only kept saying he regrets taking up the job,” Abiola said at the time.
“Mr Salami kept saying he feels embarrassed for talking up the job. He also lamented that for years after he had retired he was seated in his home eating Tuwo (a popular food from the northern part of Nigeria),” Ojaoma also said at the time.
Justice Salami however denied the story, saying the it was a figment of the imagination of Magu’s lawyers.
“There was no time anything near the unthinkable scenario painted in the false story occurred in any meeting between myself and the lawyers to Magu or any other person for that matter since the Judicial Commission of Inquiry began its sittings.” The Justice said.
“I see my appointment to serve as the chairman of the Commission of Inquiry as an honour and call to service, thus my decision to accept diligently and patrioticaIIy discharge this responsibility.”
He stated further that the reports did not come as a surprise because of the unprofessional manner in which Magu’s lawyers had been conducting his case since it began.
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He said they have been planting lies in the media about the probe panel since inception and it has become s pastime.
“They believe that it is by engaging in such media propaganda against the commission that their client can be easily absolved of the various allegations that have been brought against him.
“I want to state here that these type of lies and blackmail will not deter me and other members of the Commission from discharging our duty conscientiously.”