Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has demanded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman recuse himself from an ongoing investigation into his activities, describing the probe as politically motivated.
In a press statement issued on Monday, Malami alleged that the investigation and his detention were driven by personal animosity linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He further claimed that the EFCC Chairman holds a long-standing grudge dating back to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which investigated corruption allegations within the EFCC during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.
“The present investigation—marked by illegal detentions, media harassment, and procedural abuses—bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution,” Malami said, emphasizing that the EFCC, under its current leadership, cannot conduct a fair or impartial investigation into his conduct.
Malami formally requested that the EFCC Chairman step aside and that the matter be transferred to another government agency to ensure credibility and public confidence.
He also called on the current Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene, warning that continued involvement by the EFCC Chairman could further damage institutional integrity and abuse prosecutorial powers.
Insisting on judicial oversight, Malami urged immediate arraignment before a competent court, citing Sections 35(3), (4), and (5) of the Nigerian Constitution. “Only a court, not a politically compromised agency, can lawfully adjudicate this matter,” he said.
Malami further accused the EFCC of planning to rely on questionable witnesses, including individuals convicted abroad, to strengthen its case against him, describing the approach as “desperate, scandalous, and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”
The press release also confirmed that Malami’s office has formally requested certified copies of the petitions and investigation reports underpinning the EFCC’s actions. These petitions were filed by Human and Environmental Agenda and Grassroot Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance.
Malami concluded by stressing that his objective is to clear his name transparently through lawful judicial processes, warning against the politicization of anti-corruption agencies. “The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power, and above persons,” he stated.
