A bold statement has been made by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, as he vehemently denies any involvement in terrorism financing. In a lengthy statement released on Friday, Malami asserted his innocence, claiming that he has never been questioned or investigated by any security or intelligence authority regarding terrorism financing, either during or after his tenure.
Malami's statement comes in response to recent reports and insinuations linking him to alleged terrorist activities. He emphasized that his professional engagements were lawful and should not be misinterpreted as support for terrorism.
"I want to make it clear that I have never been accused, summoned, or charged by any authority for terrorism financing or related offenses. My work has always been within the boundaries of the law," he asserted.
The retired military officer mentioned in the report, according to Malami, only alluded to unnamed terror suspects having institutional or business dealings with various individuals. However, Malami clarified that these interactions did not amount to direct or indirect support for terrorism.
"It is unfortunate that the important clarification was overshadowed by a misleading headline, leading to inaccurate conclusions. Political adversaries have hijacked this narrative and used it for their own smear campaigns," he added.
Malami further explained that during his tenure, he worked closely with domestic and international partners to strengthen Nigeria's anti-terror financing regime. He strongly refuted any claims of complicity, stating that such allegations are politically motivated and lack evidence.
"It is crucial to differentiate between verified intelligence and politically driven narratives. Public discourse should not be influenced by misleading headlines," he cautioned.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently grilled Malami over various issues, and he was subsequently granted bail. Top sources revealed to SaharaReporters that Malami spent time in EFCC custody on Friday and was close to spending the night due to the bail conditions.
"Malami is currently in EFCC custody, and he is seeking two permanent secretaries to meet the bail conditions," one source revealed.
"An update on Malami's situation: he received bail after providing two top-level civil servants as guarantors following his interrogation on Friday," another source informed.
Earlier, Malami had announced that he was invited by the EFCC to clarify certain issues. In a statement on his Facebook page last Friday, he assured Nigerians of his cooperation with the commission's invitation, emphasizing his commitment to law and order.
"As a law-abiding citizen and patriot, I am willing to honor this invitation without hesitation and keep the public informed of any developments," he stated.
Malami has faced allegations of corruption and abuse of office, but no formal charges have been brought against him. SaharaReporters has exposed a series of reports highlighting legitimacy issues, including non-execution of contracts and backdoor deals, which have raised concerns about indebtedness.
One such beneficiary is Dr. Ted Iseghahi Edwards, who was indicted by the EFCC. Documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that Edwards did not represent the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) as previously claimed.
A letter dated August 1, 2018, from the former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to the Ministry of Justice/Attorney General's Office, accused Edwards of attempting to defraud the Nigerian government. Despite this report, Malami persuaded then-President Muhammadu Buhari to approve $159 million in legal fees for Edward, and the DMO and Ministry of Finance were directed to release the promissory notes to Edward and others for their shares, according to a source.
This case has sparked controversy and raised questions about the role of public officials in such matters. What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you think there is more to uncover, or is this a case of political smear tactics? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
