House of Reps accuses Ibrahim Magu, AGF Malami of manipulating Nigeria’s legal system

macfranc007 February 09, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- House member, Yakubu Barde, expresses concern that the chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, has been charged with corruption at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by the EFCC

- He says the same EFCC and the AGF had previously cleared Umar of the same allegations that formed the basis of the fresh two-count charge

- An assistant director of INEC and one other official who received bribe from a former minister have been re-arrested

The House of Representatives on Thursday, February 8, condemned the alleged manipulation of Nigeria’s legal system by the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The House also summoned the AGF, Abubakar Malami, for explanation on alleged manipulation of Code of Conduct Tribunal case involving the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Yakubu Barde (Kaduna-PDP), The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Moving the motion, Mr. Barde expressed concern that the chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, had been charged with corruption at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by the EFCC.

He said the same EFCC and Mr. Malami had previously cleared Mr. Umar of the same allegations that formed the basis of the fresh two-count charge.

“Any possible convictions or findings which the CCT may make from the same Danladi Umar, may be rendered null and void by the Court of Appeal, thereby frustrating the course of justice.

“The House should also recall that this same EFCC and AGF are equally prosecuting cases such as the case against the Senate President before the same CCT, which Umar sits as chairman,’’ Barde said.

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Taking turns, other lawmakers condemned the actions of the AGF and EFCC after the presiding officer, Yakubu Dogara, asked lawyers among the members, to educate their colleagues on the issue.

Razak Atunwa (Kwara-APC) said “the shenanigans and intrigues in the CCT and the trial of senate president is laughable. No doubt, there is connivance between the AGF and the EFCC against the senate president.”

Also, Aliyu Pategi (Kwara-APC) said the case against Mr. Saraki was an instance of political manipulation.

“EFCC and CCT are political tools used by the present government to witch-hunt perceived enemies,’’ he said.

However, Mohammed Monguno (Borno-APC) said “the presumption of innocence gives the judge the right to go ahead to preside over the matter.’’

The motion was therefore, adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the speaker.

Consequently, the Committee on Judiciary was mandated to interact with the AGF to ensure that sanity was brought back to the legal system.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, February 6, re-arrested two former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly diverting N731 million.

Christian Nwosu, a former INEC administrative secretary, Kwara state and Tijani Inda, an INEC assistant director were re-arrested at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos state for offences bordering on diversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N731,438,926.35.

The duo were alleged to have conspired to divert the fund for their personal use through an account belonging to Abdulganiyu Adebayo, a cashier with INEC in Kwara state.

A statement by the EFCC on Thursday, February 8, said Nwosu gave approval for the transfer of the money which was earmarked for the commission's operations in the state.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption on NAIJ.com TV