Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has demanded that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) immediately recuse himself from investigating him, alleging bias, personal vendetta, and political persecution.
In a strongly worded press release issued Monday, December 15, through his media aide, Muhammad Doka, Malami accused the anti-graft agency of conducting what he described as an politically motivated witch-hunt following his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“I have been clearly pre-judged and cannot receive a fair, objective or lawful investigation under the current leadership of the EFCC,” Malami stated, insisting that the probe was not driven by law enforcement considerations but by deep-seated historical animosity.
“The present investigation—marked by illegal detentions, media harassment, and procedural abuses—bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance,” the former justice minister said.
Malami traced the alleged animosity to his tenure as AGF, when the Federal Government constituted the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate corruption allegations within the EFCC. He noted that the current EFCC Chairman served as Secretary to that commission, which produced a report containing adverse findings against him.
The former minister formally called on the EFCC Chairman to step aside and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene. “To restore credibility and public confidence, another appropriate law enforcement agency must handle this matter,” he said, warning that failure to act could cause serious institutional damage.
Malami demanded either his immediate arraignment or release within 24 hours, citing Sections 35(3), (4), and (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. “Only a court of competent jurisdiction—not a politically compromised agency—can lawfully and credibly adjudicate this matter,” he insisted.
Raising further concerns, the former AGF accused the EFCC of attempting to rely on individuals convicted by foreign courts and currently serving criminal sentences abroad as potential witnesses. He described such moves as “desperate, scandalous and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system,” arguing that such persons should ordinarily be subjects of extradition, not prosecution witnesses.
According to the statement, Malami’s legal team has already initiated formal steps to safeguard his rights, including requests for Certified True Copies of the petitions said to have triggered the investigation—including those by Human and Environmental Agenda and Grassroot Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance—and the EFCC’s investigation report to enable him prepare his defense.
Malami concluded by emphasizing his commitment to clearing his name through lawful judicial processes. “The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power, and above persons,” he said.
The EFCC has been investigating Malami over several allegations, including transactions connected to the recovery of Abacha loot and multi-billion-naira investments in Kebbi State. The former minister recently announced his intention to run for governor of Kebbi State on the ADC platform after defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
As of press time, the EFCC has not responded to Malami’s latest allegations.
