The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the continued detention of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Malami is reportedly under investigation over his alleged inability to account for the recovery and management of $346.2 million in Abacha loot repatriated from Switzerland, as well as funds recovered from the Island of Jersey. The probe is also said to cover the disbursement of ₦4 billion under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In addition, the former AGF is being questioned over an alleged ₦10 billion investment in schools, hotels and rice mills in Kebbi State.
In a statement issued on Friday, Malami’s Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, said the former minister had met all bail requirements but was nonetheless denied release by the EFCC. He clarified that Malami did not default on any bail condition, adding that the revocation of his bail followed his attendance at a political gathering in Kebbi State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Abubakar Malami, SAN, did not default on any bail condition. His bail was revoked by the EFCC following his attendance at a political gathering in Kebbi State, not because he failed or refused to comply with any lawful requirement,” the statement said.
Reacting, the African Democratic Congress accused the EFCC of politicising law enforcement, describing the revocation of Malami’s bail as an action driven more by political considerations than by the pursuit of justice.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the timing of the bail revocation raised serious concerns about the anti-graft agency’s motives, noting that it came shortly after Malami’s participation in a political rally in Kebbi State.
The party argued that there was no evidence to suggest that Malami violated any of the conditions attached to his bail, maintaining that he had fully cooperated with EFCC investigators and acted within the bounds of the law.
“From all available evidence, Malami did not violate any of the legal conditions attached to his initial bail,” the statement said.
The ADC further noted that Malami’s background as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former chief law officer of the federation made it unlikely that he would deliberately breach bail conditions, stressing that participation in a political gathering should not be criminalised.
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