Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, continues to be held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) more than two weeks after his detention, as investigations into allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering intensify.
Malami, who served from 2015 to 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari, was detained on December 8 after reportedly failing to meet administrative bail conditions initially granted in late November.
The EFCC’s probe stems from multiple petitions accusing Malami of financial misconduct.
Key allegations include the improper payment of $16.9 million in legal fees to two lawyers for recovering funds looted by the late military ruler Sani Abacha, as well as involvement in the management of $346.2 million recovered from Switzerland.
Other claims involve a N4 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria, a $496 million payout to Global Steel Holdings after it had waived claims, a $200 million compensation deal with Sunrise Power over the Mambilla hydropower project dispute, and his role in a $419 million Paris Club judgment debt to consultants.
The agency is also examining a purported N10 billion investment in schools, hotels, and rice mills in Kebbi State, which critics say is unexplained, along with 46 bank accounts allegedly linked to him.
Reports have further mentioned suspicions of terrorism financing, though Malami’s camp has dismissed these as baseless and sensationalized.
In recent developments, EFCC operatives raided Malami’s residences and offices in Abuja and Kebbi State around mid-December, actions his team described as intimidation tactics following his public reference to Chapter 9 of the unreleased Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission Report, which allegedly contains adverse findings against current EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede.
Additionally, police have taken over the Azbir Hotel and Arena in Birnin Kebbi, properties allegedly owned by Malami and linked to the probe into assets disproportionate to his earnings.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court dismissed Malami’s bail application last week, ruling that the EFCC’s detention was lawful and that he must remain in custody pending further investigation.
Malami has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the investigation a political witch-hunt motivated by his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his gubernatorial ambitions in Kebbi State.
He has accused EFCC Chairman Olukoyede of bias, citing the Salami report, and demanded that Olukoyede recuse himself from the case. In a statement from custody, Malami urged for his immediate release, claiming his life is at risk and describing the process as a smear campaign without evidence.
His supporters echo these sentiments, arguing that no charges have been filed in court yet and insisting on a fair process.
The case has sparked widespread protests in Kebbi State, where youths have demonstrated for Malami’s release, holding prayers and rallies while decrying what they call oppression and selective prosecution.
Protesters and opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have pointed to perceived inconsistencies in anti-corruption efforts, noting that figures like former Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello face similar allegations but remain free.
“If Malami had defected to the APC, the EFCC would have left him untouched,” Atiku reportedly stated, framing the detention as politically motivated.
On the other side, civil society groups have urged Malami to cooperate fully with the investigation rather than making demands that undermine it.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) criticized his call for Olukoyede’s recusal as “baseless and evasive,” emphasizing that no one is above the law and that the probe should proceed without interference.
Critics of the protests, including some Kebbi residents, have labeled them as politically sponsored and embarrassing, arguing that accountability must apply to all public officials and that investigations are not equivalent to convictions.
As the situation evolves, no formal charges have been brought against Malami in court, and the EFCC has maintained that its actions are based on credible petitions and evidence, not political vendettas.
The case has fueled broader debates on the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions, selective justice, and the intersection of politics and law enforcement under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The public continue to monitor for updates, with calls from all sides for transparency and due process.
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