AGF Disclaims Statement On Magu, Supports Osinbajo

The Attorney General of the Federation [AGF] and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami has discredited reports that he ‘disowned’ Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on a matter relating to nomination of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

In a press statement personally signed by him and made available to Elombah.com, Mr Malami said that his press briefing yesterday “was unfortunately distorted by the media”.

He stated categorically that “all matters relating to Presidential appointments and nominations are strictly a matter for the Presidency to handle.”

He maintained that such appointments and nominations are not for the Federal Executive Council, and are therefore not discussed at FEC level. 

The statement, titled “Response To Distorted Reporting By Some Media Organisations On Proceedings Of Federal Executive Council (FEC) Press Briefing”, reads:

It has come to my notice that a number of media organisations have been distorting and misreporting the proceedings of yesterday’s (July 5, 2017) Federal Executive Council (FEC) press briefing, and suggesting that the Presidency ‘disowned’ the Acting President on a matter relating to a presidential nomination.

As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, I would like to make it categorically clear that:

1. The President – and in this case the Acting President – is the Presidency, and therefore cannot be disowned by the Presidency.

2. All matters relating to Presidential Appointments and Nominations are strictly a matter for the Presidency to handle. 

They are not for the Federal Executive Council, and are therefore not discussed at FEC level. 

This was the point I made yesterday at the press briefing, and which was unfortunately distorted by the media.

I would like to appeal to the media to take seriously its responsibility to inform the public honestly and accurately, to refrain from distorting or sensationalizing the news, and to seek clarification when in doubt.

Elombah.com had, on Wednesday, reported that the Presidency lambasted Premiumtimes over what it termed “false and misleading” report on Mr Ibrahim Magu.

Premiumtimes had quoted the AGF as saying that “the endorsement by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo of the continuous stay of Ibrahim Magu as EFCC [Economic and Financial Crimes Commission] chairman was not a collective decision”.

The media outfit also tweeted on its Twitter handle: “Magu: Osinbajo is on his own, Attorney General Malami says”.

Responding, the Presidency said that this is false and misleading, noting that the Attorney General did not at any time or in any way say this.”

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