Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says he holds no personal grudge against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF).
In an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, Olukoyede spoke on inheriting files linked to corruption allegations against Malami.
In December 2025, Malami was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja over money laundering allegations.
The former justice minister was charged alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe, on a 16-count indictment.
All three pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Malami had earlier claimed that his detention, investigation and “threatened prosecution” were politically motivated following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The former AGF had requested Olukoyede to recuse himself, citing an alleged indictment of the EFCC chairman by the Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry.
On the claims, Olukoyede urged those alleging his indictment to make the report public.
The EFCC boss said his administration conducted the investigation “thoroughly” and in a professional manner.
“We carried out our investigation in the most professional way. Let me tell you about that particular former attorney-general that you are talking about. There is nothing personal in this matter,” he said.
Olukoyede stressed that anti-corruption efforts must be non-partisan.
“If Nigeria is to move forward, all of us must agree that this fight must be fought without being partisan, and that’s what I want Nigerians to understand and to agree with us,” he said.
He noted that the probe into Malami predated his tenure as EFCC chairman.
“I want to tell Nigerians that the investigation of this man predated me in the office. I inherited the investigation file,” Olukoyede said.
He said he ensured the probe was conducted “in the most professional and thorough manner” and confirmed that Malami had been under investigation for over two and a half years.
“The file was opened in the previous EFCC administration. For the past two years I have been in office, I have been painstakingly carrying out investigation to establish some of the offences,” Olukoyede said.
“There is nothing personal about it. I don’t understand the issue of persecution.”
He reiterated that those claiming he was indicted by the Justice Ayo Salami panel should publish the report.
“Those who claimed I was indicted by the Justice Ayo Salami panel, the onus is on them to publish the report for people to see,” Olukoyede said.