Stop Stifling Malami’s Political Rights, ADC Tells EFCC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the revocation of bail initially granted former attorney-general of the federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as partisan politics, and not law enforcement.

The opposition party alleged that Malami was picked by the anti-graft agency because of his governorship ambition in his home state of Kebbi.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement, said from all available evidence, the former attorney-general did not violate any of the legal conditions attached to his initial bail.

He said revoking his bail, especially after he attended a political rally in Kebbi, could create the impression that the action was taken to curtail his politics rather than to pursue justice.

The party also demanded Malami’s immediate release on bail, without the attached conditions that stifle his political rights.

The ADC spokesman said while the party supports the EFCC and any other anti-corruption agency to pursue its mandate of investigating crimes, selective investigation or weaponising investigations against opposition leaders ultimately undermines the genuine fight against corruption in the country.

Abdullahi said, “From all available evidence, Malami did not violate any of the legal conditions attached to his initial bail.

“As a senior lawyer and former number one law officer in the country, he understands what it means to violate bail conditions.

“However, what he probably did not understand was that attending a political gathering in furtherance of his governorship ambition in his home state of Kebbi could be the basis for revoking his bail by the EFCC, even though he has cooperated fully with the agency’s investigators.

“For the avoidance of doubt, ADC regards corruption as one of the most dangerous threats to the very survival of our country,” the party’s spokesman said.

Noting that the party fully supports any genuine efforts to hold public officers accountable, Abdullahi said it is deeply concerned that some of the actions and inactions of the EFCC give the impression that the agency is a gladiator in the political arena rather than an impartial warrior against financial malpractice.

“Revoking Malami’s bail only after he had attended a political event makes one question the EFCC’s motive, and wonder on which side of the political divide the agency is fighting, and whether it is not violating the very same laws it purports to defend.”

He said by barring a citizen from political activity, the EFCC arrogates to itself powers it does not possess under the Constitution.

He added that no agency of government has the power to suspend political rights, redraw political boundaries, or determine where a citizen’s political interest may or may not be exercised.

“That this restriction applied only to Kebbi State leaves one with an inescapable conclusion that the EFCC’s real agenda is to cripple his political ambition in the state.”

The party however called the EFCC’s attention to the Afrobarometer survey data on corruption in Nigeria that was released earlier in the year.

“The report rated the Presidency (the President and officials) as the third most corrupt public institution in the country, coming closely behind the police and the National Assembly, respectively.

“ADC believes that reports such as this provide an opportunity for the EFCC to understand the magnitude of its task and reset its priorities, if it is truly committed to the fight against corruption,” the statement added.

The ADC said it stands with Malami who, according to the party, is innocent of the charges against him until declared guilty by a competent court.