The Presidential Panel investigating the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has rejected a request for video recording of the proceedings.
The panel chairman explained that such clips were not authorised by the committee. According to an insider, the panel made this known during the proceeding on Wednesday. It was gathered that the panel, however, promised to Magu fair hearing.
The source said that Salami explained to Magu that he is not trial, adding that the committee was only an investigative one and not a trial court.
The source said: “In the proceedings of August 5, 2020, His Lordship, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, offered clarifications as follow:
“That he and the members are not conducting a trial or enquiry on Mr. Ibrahim Magu or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“That this is not a panel but a committee saddled only with investigation. That the committee undertakes to guarantee fair hearing to Magu and all appearing before it in its fact-finding exercise
“The request of Mr Ibrahim Magu for the video recording of the proceedings cannot be granted because the previous recordings of the proceedings at the beginning was unauthorised by the investigation committee and the committee does not know the purpose such recordings will serve.
“The venue of the sitting of the committee is temporary and therefore it is impossible to install video recording equipment as requested by Magu. Even the superior courts of records do not have video recording facilities and lack of such facilities does not infringe on fair hearing.
“The committee undertakes to guarantee fair hearing to Magu and all appearing before it in its fact-finding exercise.”
