EFCC detains Malami

A Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is currently being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had invited Malami last week over transactions linked to the recovery of part of the Abacha loot but released him after several hours.

Malami had insisted he knew nothing about the matter and maintained his innocence.

In a statement, the former Attorney-General said that as an officer responsible for upholding the law, he could not have acted as a lawbreaker.

He noted that his years as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation were spent strengthening the fight against terrorism financing.

He said: “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.

“Secondly, even the retired military officer cited as the principal source in the said publication categorically admitted that he was not accusing me, or other named individuals, of financing terrorism. His own account, as reported, was limited to a vague assertion that certain suspects allegedly had some form of “business” or “institutional” relationship with various persons. That important clarification was, unfortunately, overshadowed by a headline and framing capable of misleading well-meaning members of the public into drawing inaccurate and damaging conclusions which was unfortunately politically manipulated by my political opponents to create mischievous insinuations implying my involvement in terrorism financing.

“Terrorism financing is a grave crime with devastating consequences for national security and human life. Any attempt—whether by direct allegation or indirect innuendo—to associate an individual with such an offence must be grounded in verifiable facts, due process and lawful findings, not in conjecture, speculation, or guilt by association.

“To suggest that lawful professional or institutional engagements can, without more, be read as evidence of terrorism financing is both mischievous and unjust.

“For the avoidance of doubt, my public record in office stands in direct contradiction to any insinuation of complicity in terrorism financing. During my tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, I worked with other arms of government and relevant institutions to strengthen—not weaken—Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.”

The EFCC has yet to comment on the development.

Malami, who also pledged to keep the public updated via his social media pages, has not posted anything on the matter in the last four days.

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