THE INSIDER: Salami actually regrets chairing Magu probe panel — but for this reason

Ayo Salami, chairman of the presidential panel probing Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), actually expressed regrets accepting the job, insiders have told TheCable.

Premium Times had, quoting Magu’s lawyers, reported Salami as expressing regrets for taking the job, but the former president of the court of appeal denied it.

Magu’s counsel swiftly insisted that the retired justice expressed his regrets.

However, two insiders familiar with the incident have confirmed to TheCable that indeed, Salami lamented accepting the job — though for a different reason.

According to the source, the retired justice’s major grouse was the conduct of Magu’s lawyers.

TheCable understands that Salami, at one of the sittings, had told Magu’s legal team that only one lawyer would be allowed into the hall in compliance with COVID-19 protocol.

However, the lawyers started arguing with him and spoke in a manner he considered rude, after which he ordered them to leave.

Zainab Abiola, one of the lawyers, later granted media interviews on the incident, alleging that there is a detention cell in Aso Rock.

‘REGRET NOT ABOUT THE CASE’

“For context, Salami is 76 years old. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1967 and was called to the bar in 1968. He rose to the position of president of the court of appeal, next only to the chief justice of Nigeria, before retiring in 2011,” the insider said.

“He could not believe the conduct of the lawyers when he issued a simple instruction to them. The next thing he started reading stories in the media that he walked them out.

“He told them frankly that he did not know the legal profession had descended so low, that the much-cherished discipline associated with the profession has vanished.

“And then he said if he knew this was what he was going to face, he would not have accepted the job.

“Sadly, the lawyers went and twisted his words again, further confirming his reservations.”

The second insider said Salami was “frustrated” and gave the lawyers “a piece of his mind”.

“It had nothing to do with accepting to investigate Magu. The lawyers are making it look like he said he regretted handling the investigation, as if he was under pressure not to do the right thing,” he said.

MAGU IN THE DOCK

Magu has been in the news since his arrest by a combined team of Department of State Services (DSS) operatives and officers from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in July.

The commissioner of police is accused of mismanaging assets recovered by the EFCC which he oversaw for more than four years.

Although the proceedings of the panel are not open to the public, the positions of Magu on the various allegations levelled against him are everywhere in the media.

The interim report of the Salami-led panel indicted him and recommended his sack to President Muhammadu Buhari, as reported by TheCable.