By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A constititional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, on Tuesday tendered exhibits, including two video clips and some documents before the Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel investigating alleged corruption practices preferred against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
Ozekhome tendered the exhibits when he appeared before the panel apparently to testify against Magu.
During the session which lasted for about two hours, the Silk Lawyer made reference to the alleged leadership failures of the suspended EFCC Chairman, and the investigative deficiencies of the anti-graft agency.
Ozekhome stressed the need for the EFCC to be more professional and engage less in media trial. He also recommended to the panel to look into the selective arrests and trials by the Commission
Reacting to the development, Magu’s lawyer, Tosin Ojaomo, said: “We are aware of the visit of Chief Ozekhome.
“His grouse is the freezing of his account in 2017, which was later unfrozen.
“Unfortunately, it only goes to show that the panel is on a fishing expedition, because the panel is also inviting people, who have a score to settle with Magu.
“This is not how panels are supposed to act. We all remember how the Justice Oputa panel conducted itself professionally many years ago.
“People who were invited were given petitions ahead of time so that they could defend themselves.
“Till date, Magu has not received any petition. Is this fair?”
Responding, Mike Ozekhome said: “I have not even said anything about the seizure of my funds by the EFCC and I am surprised that Ojaomo, a lawyer, can talk about something he didn’t witness.
“My N75 million was seized by Magu and his goons despite the fact that it was my legal fees. I went to court and defeated them; so, I have nothing to prove.
“All I did at the panel was to tender some documents and some CDs, which contained videos. One of them is a video where I was given a standing ovation at an event where I advised Magu on how to fight corruption.
“It was about telling them not to do a one-sided anti-graft war, where you arrest activists and leave those in government.
“I also tendered a letter dated May 2017, which I wrote to the then acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“In the letter, I raised 12 questions as to where the recovered loot and property were and if the property had been sold, to who and for how much.
“Tell Ojaomo to relax and that I have not yet started.”
