Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has called for the immediate recusal of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman from his ongoing investigation, alleging bias, personal vendetta, and political persecution linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a press release issued on Monday by his media aide, Muhammad Doka, Malami accused the EFCC of engaging in “illegal detention, media harassment and procedural abuse,” insisting the probe was motivated by historical animosity rather than law enforcement. He pointed to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, established during his tenure as AGF to investigate corruption allegations within the EFCC, noting that the current EFCC Chairman had served as Secretary to the commission and that the publicly available Salami Report contained adverse findings against him.
“The present investigation bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance,” Malami said, insisting he could not receive a fair or objective probe under the current leadership. He urged the EFCC Chairman to step aside and called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene, warning that failure to act could result in “serious institutional damage.”
Malami further demanded either immediate arraignment before a competent court or release within 24 hours, citing Sections 35(3), (4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), stressing that only a court—and not a politically compromised agency—can lawfully adjudicate the matter.
He also raised concerns over the EFCC’s alleged plan to rely on foreign-convicted individuals as witnesses, describing such tactics as “desperate, scandalous and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.” Malami’s legal team has requested certified copies of the petitions and investigation reports to prepare his defence, emphasizing that his goal is to clear his name transparently before a competent court.
“Let it be stated clearly: I seek no political settlement or inducement. The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power and above persons,” Malami said. The EFCC had not responded to his claims at the time of reporting.
