Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ola Olukoyede, of a conflict of interest, citing excerpts from the Justice Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry report. According to Malami, chapter nine of the report revealed circumstances that make Olukoyede’s involvement in cases relating to him untenable.
In a statement released in Abuja by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami said the Salami commission was established under his supervision to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC. He noted that the current EFCC chairman served as secretary to the commission at the time, raising questions about impartiality.
Malami claimed that chapter nine of the report highlighted conduct and responsibilities of senior EFCC officials, creating personal and professional exposure for individuals now exercising prosecutorial authority over him. He argued that the EFCC’s actions could not reasonably be seen as neutral law enforcement, but rather a personal vendetta rooted in unresolved issues from the report.
He emphasized that the law on recusal is based on the reasonable apprehension of bias, not proof of actual malice, and said any informed observer would conclude that he cannot receive an impartial investigation under the current EFCC leadership.
The former AGF also accused the EFCC of violating his fundamental rights through unlawful restrictions on liberty, denial of fair hearing, and a sustained trial by media via selective leaks aimed at swaying public opinion against him. Malami described these actions as an attempt to criminalize lawful policy decisions made during his tenure.
Malami insisted he is willing to submit to a neutral and independent investigative process and face trial only before a competent court of law. He called for the immediate recusal of the EFCC chairman from all matters involving him, stressing:
“This is not a personal dispute; it is a constitutional issue. If the EFCC is allowed to function as an instrument for settling personal scores, then the rule of law itself is imperilled. I will continue to insist on justice according to law and due process, not persecution by power.”
This latest development has reignited debates over EFCC’s independence and the broader implications for governance and accountability in Nigeria.
