Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, has alleged that the assets currently linked to Abubakar Malami, a former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, represent only a fraction of what was allegedly misappropriated.
Maina made the claim in Abuja while receiving the Rule of Law and Courage Award presented by the Garki branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He argued that investigators have only “scratched the surface” of the alleged financial trail and insisted that far more can still be recovered.
According to him, the value of assets identified so far does not come close to the full scale of the alleged diversion.
“Malami allegedly stole a lot of funds. What the government has seen so far is not even one quarter,” Maina was quoted as saying.
He further urged the authorities to intensify efforts to trace and recover additional funds, claiming the recovery process should go beyond what has already been uncovered.
Maina also praised the current administration for what he described as a stronger commitment to accountability, transparency, and due process, contrasting it with the previous government led by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his remarks, Maina referenced figures connected to the ongoing investigation and questioned the scale of what has so far been publicly discussed, insisting that more resources can still be traced to the former justice minister.
“We can recover these funds from Malami. There are more than what has been seen. What is 270 billion? Yes, the government is doing the right thing,” he said.
The former pension reform official also narrated what he described as a dramatic encounter abroad, alleging that top government officials travelled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to pressure him to return to Nigeria.
Maina claimed that the group included the late former President Buhari; Kemi Adeosun, a former minister of finance; Babagana Monguno, a former national security adviser (NSA); and Malami himself.
He said he rejected the request and further alleged that those involved later attempted to influence him through his mother.
Maina stated that the interest in his return, according to him, was tied to claims that former President Goodluck Jonathan had told Buhari’s team about his alleged role in recovering ₦1.63 trillion during Jonathan’s tenure—an amount he said could be verified by former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“They begged me, and I refused to come to Nigeria,” Maina said, adding that Jonathan allegedly informed the officials of the recovery of funds and properties linked to his work while in office.
Malami Standing Trial, Granted Bail
Malami is currently standing trial alongside his wife and son over allegations bordering on money laundering.
The former AGF was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was later remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
A Federal High Court in Abuja granted Malami bail on January 7 in the sum of ₦500 million.