Probe: AGF ordered my arrest because I refused to implicate Magu – Lawyer

Embattled lawyer, Victor Giwa yesterday declared that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), ordered his arrest because he refused to implicate the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, in the ongoing presidential probe panel.

Giwa said this in a statement after he was released from the EFCC custody.

The lawyer was arrested alongside one Fatima Hassan last week shortly after they testified before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel which is investigating Magu.

Giwa’s former client, Donald Wokoma, who was a Director at Damijay Integrated Services, had told the panel through a sworn affidavit that his bank account was frozen by Magu unjustly, and he subsequently hired Giwa to sue the EFCC.

Wokoma, who is a former special assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had said after the court ordered that the account be unfrozen, Magu, through his ‘boys’ demanded N75million from him as a condition for obeying the order.

Wokoma, who submitted text messages and audio clips of his conversation with Giwa, said the latter told him that Magu had demanded the money and advised him as his lawyer to pay the bribe.

However, when Giwa appeared before the panel, he denied the bribery allegation, insisting that Magu was a man of integrity, but accused the AGF of instigating his arrest.

He said this in a statement titled ‘Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) Is Using Donald Wokoma, My Erstwhile Client, Against Me for My Refusal to Testify and Indict Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of EFCC, at the Justice Ayo Salami Panel Investigating the EFCC Boss.’

Meanwhile, the Attorney General yesterday declared that he would never conspire with anyone to jeopardise the ongoing probe of suspended EFCC boss.

In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, Malami said “the attention of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a flimsy allegation made by one, Victor Giwa, Esq accusing the Honourable Attorney-General of theFederation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN of conniving with one Donald Wokoma to witch-hunt him over what he termed as “his refusal to testify against Ibrahim Magu” at the ongoing Retired Justice Ayo Sami-Led Presidential Panel probing the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

“The Honourable Attorney-General never met Giwa and has never discussed any issue with the so-called Donald Wokoma nor asked anybody, personally or by proxy, to engage the so-called Victor to testify against Magu.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation who has not set up the investigation panel to probe Magu is not saddled with any responsibility to procure witness(es) for the panel.”

According to Gwandu, the AGF is never a member of the panel nor does it fall within the realm of his authority to invite witness(es) for a presidential probe panel.

“The claim by Victor Giwa, Esq is therefore fictitious, unfounded and figment of imagination of mischief makers who want to create unnecessary attention and tarnish the good image of the

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and labouring incessantly, these days, to falsely cast aspersion on the AGF’s hard earned reputation.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation hereby called the so-called Victor Giwa to come and substantiate his allegation with details of the following: When did Victor Giwa meet the AGF on the issue? Where did Victor Giwa meet the AGF on the issue? How was the meeting? Was it by proxy? Or the AGF sent a representative? In what capacity was the representative, if any? What were the terms of their engagement? What was the claimed ‘offer?’ How was the so-called offer to testify against Magu made? Who were the witnesses?” the statement concluded.