Salami’s panel report irrelevant to Buhari's power in appointing Magu's successor, Presidency declares

Salami’s panel report irrelevant to Buhari's power in appointing Magu's successor, Presidency declares

- The presidency has replied critics who faulted the president's non-disclosure of the report on Ibrahim Magu's probe

- Some lawyers and activists criticised the president’s move when he announced Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new EFCC chairman

- Garba Shehu, a presidential aide, said the panel's report is irrelevant to the president's power to appoint a new head

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

Following the appointment of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, the presidency has responded to the barrage of criticisms that greeted the nomination.

According to the presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari’s power to appoint a new EFCC chair has nothing to do with the report of the Ayo Salami panel of inquiry, Premium Times reports.

Bawa, a 40-year-old trained EFCC prosecutor, was on Tuesday, February 16, appointed the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency in a letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate.

Read also

I was shocked: Magu reacts to Bawa's appointment as EFCC boss, speaks on justice and allegations

Salami’s panel report irrelevant to Buhari's power in appointing Magu's successor, Presidency declares
Buhari appointed Bawa as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency. Photo credit: @BashirAhmaad @ALIYUCOMRADE2
Source: Twitter

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu made the statement in a reply to lawyers and activists who faulted the president’s non-disclosure of the report of Salami panel before appointing a new head for the agency

Shehu explained that Buhari's power to appoint a new EFCC chair is not dependent on the report of the inquiry or any other report.

Magu reacts to Bawa's appointment as EFCC boss

The presidency's reaction is coming after the embattled former anti-graft chairman Ibrahim Magu described Bawa's appointment's as shocking.

Reacting through his lawyer Tosin Ojaomo, Magu said the "appointment came to me as a shock" as justice has not been served in respect to the allegations of power abuse levelled against him.

Ojaomo, who spoke on Channels TV, said Magu was suspended for an allegation which has not been proven against him, adding that the presidency must come out clean on whether the embattled ex-EFCC boss "has been found wanting or not".

Read also

Abdulrasheed Bawa: Anxiety as EFCC speaks on corruption allegation against Magu's successor

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

-----

Oluwatobi Bolashodun is a Legit.ng journalist with six years of working experience in the media industry. She graduated from Babcock University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication. Oluwatobi is a Current Affairs Editor, mostly writing on political, educational, and business topics. She uses her team spirit to encourage others to work hard.

Source: Legit.ng

Online view pixel