Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has openly challenged the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing its chairman of bias and demanding either his immediate arraignment in court or his release from custody.
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesman, Muhammad Doka, Malami called for the immediate recusal of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, from any involvement in the investigation concerning him. He alleged that the probe was tainted by personal animosity, political motives and a lack of procedural fairness, which he linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Malami accused the anti-graft agency of subjecting him to unlawful detention, trial by media and abuse of due process, insisting that the investigation was not being conducted in good faith. According to him, the circumstances surrounding the probe show that he has already been prejudged.
“I cannot expect a fair, objective or lawful investigation under the present leadership of the EFCC,” the former minister said, stressing that the process has been compromised from the outset.
He traced the alleged bias to events during his tenure as Attorney-General, when the Federal Government set up the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to examine allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC. Malami noted that Olukoyede served as Secretary to the commission and claimed that the panel’s report, which has since become public, made adverse findings against the EFCC chairman.
According to Malami, the current investigation reflects “retaliatory persecution” driven by personal grievance rather than genuine law enforcement objectives. On this basis, he formally demanded that Olukoyede step aside from the matter and called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene in the interest of justice and institutional integrity.
He argued that to restore public confidence in the process, the case should be handled by another competent law enforcement agency, warning that allowing the EFCC to continue under the current circumstances could inflict serious damage on the credibility of state institutions.
Malami further demanded that the EFCC either arraign him before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours or release him, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution that protect citizens against unlawful detention. He maintained that only a court, not a politically compromised investigative body, has the authority to determine his guilt or innocence.
The former AGF also raised concerns over what he described as the EFCC’s attempt to rely on individuals convicted by foreign courts and currently serving prison sentences abroad as potential witnesses. He described such an approach as troubling and damaging to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system, arguing that convicted persons abroad should ordinarily be subjects of extradition rather than prosecution witnesses.
According to the statement, Malami’s legal team has begun taking formal steps to protect his rights, including requesting Certified True Copies of the petitions that prompted the investigation, as well as access to the EFCC’s investigation report, to enable him prepare an effective defence.
Reiterating his position, Malami said he was not seeking any political deal or behind-the-scenes settlement. He insisted that his only goal was to clear his name through a transparent judicial process.
“Nigeria must not become a country where anti-corruption agencies are used as instruments of political intimidation,” he said, adding that the rule of law must prevail over politics, power and personal interests.
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