The Presidency has said that the suspended boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was not being tried yet; but investigated.
Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that Magu’s probe by the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel was a plus to the Federal Government’s stance in fighting corruption.
He was reacting to the release of the suspended boss of the EFCC from the custody of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Adesina said,
“Mr Magu is not being tried, at least not yet because what lawyers call prima facie has not been built against him.
“He is rather going through investigation. So it is a plus for the anti-corruption war rather than something that will rebuild the bite and impact of that war.”
Adesina also said that nobody was above scrutiny.
He explained that there was no need for Nigerians to be worried about the anti-corruption war, adding that Magu’s travails will rather strengthen the fight against graft.
The presidential spokesman warned critics of the administration not to pick faults with his principal for quizzing Magu.
The EFCC boss has been in the eye of the storm following his invitation by the Federal Government panel set up in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on July 6.
He was later moved to Area 10 Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the police in Abuja where he has since been detained.
On June 11, President Muhammadu Buhari affirmed the suspension of Mr Magu and it took effect immediately. According to a statement from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the presidential directive was to allow for an unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws.