By Peter Omopo
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of subjecting him to a politically motivated investigation and has called on the commission’s chairman to step aside from the probe.
In a statement issued on Monday, December 15, by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami alleged that his detention, investigation and possible prosecution by the anti-graft agency were driven by personal animosity rather than adherence to the rule of law.
The former justice minister claimed that the EFCC’s actions followed his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he said triggered retaliatory measures from the leadership of the commission.
Malami further alleged that the EFCC chairman is acting out of a long-standing grievance linked to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which investigated allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General. He noted that the current EFCC chairman served as secretary to the commission and was mentioned in its report.
According to Malami, the findings of the Salami Commission, particularly those contained in Chapter Nine of the report, raised issues that included possible prosecution of the present EFCC chairman. He claimed that the current investigation bears the hallmarks of a retaliatory action arising from those past events.
The former Attorney-General said he had been pre-judged by the EFCC and could not receive a fair and impartial investigation under the commission’s current leadership. He therefore demanded that the EFCC chairman immediately recuse himself from the matter and that the investigation be transferred to another appropriate government agency to restore credibility and public confidence.
Malami also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation, as the Chief Law Officer of the country, to intervene by urging the EFCC chairman to step aside in order to prevent what he described as further institutional damage and abuse of prosecutorial powers.
He further demanded either his immediate prosecution or release, insisting that any charges against him be filed and that he be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours, in line with constitutional provisions on personal liberty.
In addition, Malami accused the EFCC of attempting to rely on individuals convicted by foreign courts and currently serving criminal sentences abroad as potential witnesses against him, describing the move as an abuse of process and a threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
The former minister said his legal team has formally requested certified true copies of petitions allegedly forming the basis of the investigation, as well as the EFCC’s investigation report, to enable him prepare his defence.
He maintained that his only objective is to clear his name openly and transparently before a court of law, stressing that anti-corruption agencies must not be used as instruments of political intimidation or personal vendetta.
Malami reiterated his commitment to the rule of law, insisting that justice must prevail above politics, power and personal interests.
