Malami Detained By EFCC Over Abacha Loot Probe

A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is currently being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over investigations linked to the recovery of the Abacha loot.

Citizen FM learnt that Malami, who was invited by the anti-graft agency last week, was initially questioned for several hours and allowed to go home before being summoned again for further interrogation.

He has since been held at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the fresh detention is connected to financial transactions made during efforts to recover part of the funds looted by the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

Malami, however, has repeatedly maintained his innocence.

In a statement released prior to his detention, the former AGF dismissed allegations linking him to terrorism financing or any unlawful dealings, describing them as politically motivated and lacking factual basis.

He said as a public officer who once served as the country’s chief law officer, he could not have acted contrary to the laws he was mandated to uphold.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

He faulted what he called deliberate misrepresentation by political opponents, saying the retired military officer cited as the source of the allegations had, in fact, clarified that he was not accusing him or others of funding terrorism.

“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,” he said.

Malami stressed that his record in office contradicted any suggestion of wrongdoing, noting that he worked with other arms of government to enhance Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

“Terrorism financing is a grave crime with devastating consequences for national security and human life,” he added.

“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.”

The former minister, who had earlier pledged to update members of the public via his social media pages, has not made any public post on the issue in the last four days.

As of press time, the EFCC has not responded to inquiries regarding his detention or the status of the investigation.