Retired Justice Ayo Salami, the Chairman, Presidential Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has denied regretting his appointment to head the panel.
Recall that an online newspaper that is not DAILY NIGERIAN had reported that Mr Salami had regretted heading the presidential panel during the close of Mr Magu’s defence hearing held on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
But Mr Salami, in a statement he signed on Tuesday, said the report were “outright falsehood” against his person.
“There was no time anything near the unthinkable scenario painted in the false story occurred in any meeting between myself and the lawyers to Magu or any other person, for that matter, since the Judicial Commission of Inquiry began its sittings,” Mr Salami stressed.
According to him, the reports were a figment of the wild imagination of the newspaper, dismissing also the two lawyers quoted as sources of the story.
He said: “I have never appointed any of the two lawyers or any other person(s) to speak on my behalf as I can express myself without recourse to the lawyers of the persons we are probing.
“As an eminent jurist, who retired as the President of the Court of Appeal, I have handled much more complex cases than the current one before the Commission.
“There is no doubt that the false reports were aimed at causing mischief and tarnishing my hard-earned reputation and integrity.
“I remain resolute and committed to the service of the nation and ready to champion the ideals of justice and fairness.”
Mr Salami, therefore, declared that no amount of blackmail would deter him and other members of the commission from discharging their duty conscientiously.
He said: “I urge Nigerians to disregard the falsehood contained in the viral reports. No amount of propaganda can dampen my spirit and that of the members of the Commission.
“| also want to assure Nigerians that the Judicial the Commission of Inquiry which I Chair, will continue with its thorough investigation of the allegations against the suspended acting EFCC Chairman with a view to unearthing the truth and ensuring justice is manifestly done.
“The Nigerian Press is hereby implored to respect and uphold the sanctity of the tenets of ethical journalism practice of verification of information, balancing reports and contacting appropriate sources before publishing their reports in the spirit of patriotism and national interest.”
