..Cites historical animosity, threatens legal action
Abubakar Malami, SAN, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has demanded the immediate recusal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from his ongoing investigation, labelling the probe a politically motivated witch-hunt driven by “malicious personal vendetta.”
The demand was made in a press release issued by his office on Monday, which directly links the EFCC’s actions to Malami’s recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Malami accused the EFCC Chairman of orchestrating a retaliatory persecution, rooted in a “deep-seated historical animosity.”
He recalled that while serving as AGF, the Federal Government constituted the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption within the EFCC—a panel where the current EFCC Chairman served as Secretary.
“The Salami Report, which is in the public domain, contains serious findings implicating the present EFCC Chairman, particularly as detailed in chapter 9 of the report, which included recommendations for his possible prosecution,” the statement read.
“It is against this background that the present investigation—marked by illegal detentions, media harassment, and procedural abuses—now bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance,” Malami asserted.
He described the Chairman’s conduct as “a grave abuse of office and a direct affront to the rule of law.”
Consequently, Malami stated he has been “pre-judged” and cannot receive a fair investigation under the current EFCC leadership. He formally demanded the matter be handed over to another government agency to restore credibility.
The former minister has also called on the incumbent Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene and “prevail on the EFCC Chairman to recuse himself, in order to prevent further institutional damage and ensure that prosecutorial powers are not abused for partisan or personal ends.”
Malami reiterated his demand for immediate prosecution or release, insisting the EFCC must file charges and arraign him before a competent court within 24 hours, in line with constitutional provisions.
He further raised alarms over the EFCC’s investigative tactics, accusing the agency of attempting to rely on witnesses who are “individuals convicted by foreign courts and subject to subsisting criminal sentences abroad.”
“Such individuals, who ought ordinarily to be subjects of lawful extradition proceedings, are instead being weaponised to advance a domestic political agenda. This strategy is desperate, scandalous, and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system,” the statement warned.
The office confirmed that all necessary legal steps have been initiated, including demands for Certified True Copies of the petitions and the EFCC’s investigation report to prepare his defence.
“Let it be stated clearly: Abubakar Malami, SAN, seeks no political settlement, no inducement, and no alliance of convenience. His singular objective is to clear his name openly, transparently, and decisively before a court of competent jurisdiction,” the release concluded.
“The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power, and above persons.”
Malami is facing eight count charges on corruption allegations.
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