Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has firmly denied allegations published in a media report that linked him to individuals connected to terrorism financing.
A report by Sahara Reporters, published on Friday, claimed that two suspects arrested in a counter terrorism operation were “linked to” Malami, among other prominent Nigerians.
In a statement released on his Facebook page on Friday evening, the former AGF rejected what he called false and defamatory claims.
He stated that he has never been accused, investigated, or charged by any Nigerian or international agency in connection with terrorism financing.
Mr Malami added that the retired military officer cited as the primary source in the report did not accuse him of wrongdoing and that the publication had misrepresented.
Spear News reports that the terror financing allegations surface as the former minister faces other serious allegations. Malami was recently questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of mismanagement of recovered assets, including parts of the Abacha loot. He was released on administrative bail and has denied any wrongdoing, with no charges filed to date
It would be recalled that Malami declared in May 2021 that investigations had uncovered “many” highly placed Nigerians and businessmen involved in financing terrorism, and that they were being profiled for prosecution.
However, his office subsequently resisted public pressure to reveal the identities of these suspected financiers throughout the remainder of the Buhari administration.
Malami had argued that names would not be disclosed until after prosecution and conviction. No such prosecutions were publicly concluded before the administration left office in May 2023.
In his rebuttal, Mr Malami pointed to his record in office, particularly his role in strengthening Nigeria’s legal framework against financial crime and terrorism. He highlighted his work on the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which updated offences and penalties related to terrorism financing.
“These reforms…formed part of the body of work later assessed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and contributed to Nigeria’s eventual removal from the FATF ‘grey list’ of jurisdictions under increased monitoring,” he stated.
He stressed that engagement with a wide range of individuals is a normal part of public service and does not imply criminal involvement.
Concluding his statement, Malami urged responsible reporting on national security issues and reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and the strengthening of justice institutions.
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