Malami describes Obasanjo’s corruption allegations as unfounded

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has dismissed allegations made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of fostering corruption during President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

In his recently published book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo claimed that corruption flourished under Buhari’s administration, with Malami playing a significant role.

He referred to Malami as a “devil’s workshop” and alleged that he encouraged corrupt activities while weakening anti-corruption efforts.

Obasanjo specifically cited the controversial state pardons granted in 2022 to former governors Joshua Dariye (Plateau State) and Jolly Nyame (Taraba State), both convicted of embezzling public funds. He alleged that Malami influenced the decision, arguing that the pardons were not truly motivated by humanitarian concerns, as officially stated.

Responding to these claims in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Malami refuted the allegations, emphasizing that the pardon process followed due legal procedures and was overseen by a dedicated committee on the prerogative of mercy.

He clarified that his role was solely to present the committee’s recommendations to the Council of State.

“The responsibility for the decisions made by the committee rests with the committee itself, not the Attorney General,” Malami stated.

He also criticized the growing trend of baseless corruption accusations against public officials, stressing the importance of presenting verifiable evidence to support such claims.

“Our system is filled with sweeping corruption allegations. If accusations are to be credible, they should be backed with concrete details—what was given, when, how, and through whom,” he said.

Malami concluded that vague and unsubstantiated claims only serve to mislead the public and have no legal merit.