FG Queries EFCC Boss Magu over Charges Against CCT Chair Umar

FG Queries EFCC Boss Magu over Charges Against CCT Chair Umar

The Federal Government has issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Festus Keyamo over the corruption charges filed against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar in the name of government.

This was contained in two separate letters to Magu and Keyamo that was obtained by PRNigeria, a Press Releases distribution platform.

In the query dated February 16, 2018 and with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15, Magu was ordered to make his response to the query available to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

The query was signed by  Mr. Dayo Apata, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, calling on Magu to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman having being cleared of corruption allegation two times by the same Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Titled “FR VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for Briefing,” the query read in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.

“I am directed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.

“The Commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.

“The Commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

“In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based.

“Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”

Similarly, in a separate letter, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, who was purportedly engaged as a private lawyer by Magu to prosecute the CCT boss was also requested by the AGF to confirm who authorise him to file the corruption charge against Umar.

Keyamo was also given till Tuesday February 20, 2018 to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing detail of who engaged or issued him with authority to file the corruption charges.

The letter to Keyamo is with reference No DPP/ADV:369/15 dated February 16, 2018.

The EFCC had on February 2, 2018 brought a two-count charge against the CCT Chairman bordering on alleged receipt of N10m bribe from one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo in the charge signed by Festus Keyamo as a private prosecuting counsel and one Offem Uket an official of EFCC.