Malami fires back at Obasanjo’s corruption allegations

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Malami clarified that decisions regarding presidential pardons are handled by a designated committee, with the Attorney General’s role limited to presenting the committee’s report.

Obasanjo’s allegations, made in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, claimed that corruption was rampant under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with Malami playing a key role in enabling corrupt practices.

Specifically, Obasanjo alleged that Malami had advised Buhari to grant presidential pardons to two former governors, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, who had been convicted of fraud.

Malami strongly refuted the claims, emphasizing that the process of granting pardons is strictly regulated by law.

He explained that his role as Attorney General was limited to presenting the committee’s report to the Council of State, and that the responsibility for actions and inactions associated with the committee’s recommendations lies with the committee, not the Attorney General.

Malami also criticized the growing trend of unsubstantiated corruption allegations against public officials, calling for detailed and evidence-based claims to ensure credibility.

He stressed that for any corruption or bribery allegation to hold weight, sufficient details must be provided, including who gave what, how much was given, and who facilitated the bribery.

The former Minister of Justice concluded that allegations lacking such specifics remain baseless, mischievous, and devoid of actionable grounds for legal pursuit.