Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has called for the immediate recusal of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman from his ongoing investigation, citing alleged bias and political persecution linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Muhammad Doka, Malami accused the EFCC of “illegal detention, media harassment and procedural abuse,” insisting the probe was motivated by “deep-seated historical animosity” rather than law enforcement considerations.
“I have been clearly pre-judged and cannot receive a fair, objective or lawful investigation under the current leadership of the EFCC,” Malami said.
He based his claims on events dating back to his tenure as AGF, noting that the present EFCC Chairman served as Secretary to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which investigated allegations of corruption within the commission.
Malami argued that the current investigation is retaliatory in nature, citing adverse findings from the Salami Report.
On this premise, Malami formally asked the EFCC Chairman to step aside and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure another law enforcement agency handles the case to restore credibility.
He also demanded either his immediate arraignment or release within 24 hours, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The former AGF further criticized the EFCC for attempting to rely on individuals convicted abroad as potential witnesses, describing the move as “desperate, scandalous and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”
Malami’s legal team has initiated steps to safeguard his rights, including requests for official documents related to the investigation.
“My singular objective is to clear my name openly and transparently before a court of competent jurisdiction. Nigeria must not become a republic where anti-corruption agencies are tools of political intimidation,” he stated.
As of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to respond to Malami’s allegations.