Malami Accuses EFCC Chair of Bias, Seeks His Recusal, Alleges Political Persecution

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has called for the immediate withdrawal of Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, from an ongoing investigation involving him, citing alleged bias, personal vendetta, and political persecution.

In a statement, yesterday, by his media aide, Muhammad Doka, Malami accused the anti-graft agency of conducting an unlawful and prejudiced investigation on him marked by illegal detention, media harassment, and procedural abuses.

Malami argued that the probe was not motivated by legitimate law enforcement objectives but by “deep-seated historical animosity”, allegedly, linked to his role during his tenure as AGF and his recent defection to African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“I have been clearly pre-judged and cannot receive a fair, objective or lawful investigation under the current leadership of the EFCC,” Malami said.

He hinged his claims on events during his time in office, when the federal government constituted the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office within EFCC.

According to Malami, the incumbent EFCC chairman served as Secretary to the commission, and the Salami report, now in the public domain, contained adverse findings against him.

“The present investigation bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance,” Malami alleged.

He formally requested that the EFCC chairman step aside from any involvement in the matter and urged the AGF, in his capacity as the country’s Chief Law Officer, to intervene.

Malami said, “To restore credibility and public confidence, another appropriate law enforcement agency must be assigned to this matter.”

He warned that failure to do so could result in serious institutional damage.

Malami also demanded either his immediate arraignment before a court or his release within 24 hours, citing Sections 35(3), (4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Only a court of competent jurisdiction, not a politically compromised agency, can lawfully and credibly adjudicate this matter,” he stated.

He further accused EFCC of attempting to rely on individuals convicted by foreign courts and currently serving criminal sentences abroad as potential witnesses, describing such a move as “desperate, scandalous and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system”.

Malami stated that such individuals should ordinarily be subjects of extradition rather than prosecution witnesses.

According to the statement, Malami’s legal team has taken steps to safeguard his rights, including requests for Certified True Copies of the petitions that allegedly triggered the investigation, as well as EFCC’s investigation report, to enable him prepare his defence.

Malami stated, “I seek no political settlement or inducement. My sole objective is to clear my name openly and transparently before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Nigeria must not become a republic where anti-corruption agencies are instruments of political intimidation. The law must remain supreme – above politics, power and persons.”

As at the time of filing this report, EFCC had yet to respond to the allegations.