EFCC Grills, Detains Ex-Attorney General Malami

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, intensely questioned and detained former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) over allegations bordering on corruption and terrorism financing.

Malami is being investigated over allegations relating to money laundering, with a focus on the operation of suspicious accounts.

The former minister is also being investigated for his alleged investment of N10 billion in Kebbi State, as well as the whereabouts of $322 million of Abacha loot recovered from a Swiss account and approximately $22 million from the Island of Jersey in the United Kingdom.

An EFCC source said Malami was still being held at the EFCC headquarters as of 10 pm on Tuesday because he had not been able to meet his bail conditions.

According to the source, “The former minister is still with us. We are still working investigating him for about 18 offences. You know that he was granted bail but didn’t meet the conditions. He is being investigated for money laundering, terrorism financing and abuse of office, among many others.”

The source added that the commission has several other allegations against Malami, which will come up later, noting that ”We have detained the Ex-minister for terrorism financing and the whereabouts of Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey in the UK.

“His sudden wealth of N10billion investments in Kebbi State are under investigation. We may attach some of these assets.

“We are likely to interrogate one of his wives on her role in the N4billion Anchor Borrowers cash advanced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“He has a lot to clarify, but he has not been able to meet bail conditions. He might be with us until he fulfils these.”

However, Malami has countered these allegations, dismissing them as not reflective of his record of public service.

Reacting to the allegations of terrorism financing, Malami cited his key roles in Nigeria’s AML/CFT Reforms and FATF Grey-List exit as a defence in a post on X.

According to him, “My attention has been drawn to a recent publication in which my name was mentioned in connection with allegations of terrorism financing and so-called ‘links’ to persons described as terror suspects or alleged financiers.

“I consider it necessary, in the interest of truth, justice and public record, to make the following clarifications.
First, I state clearly and unequivocally that I have never at any time been accused, invited, interrogated, investigated or charged by any security, law-enforcement, regulatory or intelligence agency—within or outside Nigeria—in respect of terrorism financing or any related offence.”