Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has demanded the immediate recusal of Ola Olukayode, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from his ongoing investigation.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Muhammad Doka, Malami accused the EFCC of what he described as “illegal detention, media harassment and procedural abuse,” insisting that the investigation against him was not motivated by genuine law enforcement concerns but by “deep-seated historical animosity” on the part of the EFCC leadership.
“I have been clearly pre-judged and cannot receive a fair, objective or lawful investigation under the current leadership of the EFCC,” Malami said.
The former justice minister anchored his allegations on events dating back to his tenure as Attorney-General, when the Federal Government set up the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC.
Malami noted that the current EFCC chairman served as Secretary to the commission and that the Salami Report, now in the public domain, contained adverse findings against him.
“The present investigation bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance,” he alleged.
Based on this, Malami formally called on the EFCC Chairman to step aside from the matter and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation, as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, to intervene.
“To restore credibility and public confidence, another appropriate law enforcement agency must handle this matter,” he said, warning that failure to do so could result in “serious institutional damage.”
He also demanded either his immediate arraignment or release within 24 hours, citing Sections 35(3), (4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Only a court of competent jurisdiction—not a politically compromised agency—can lawfully and credibly adjudicate this matter,” Malami insisted.
Raising additional concerns, the former AGF accused the EFCC of attempting to rely on individuals convicted by foreign courts and currently serving prison sentences abroad as potential witnesses.
He described such moves as “desperate, scandalous and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system,” arguing that such persons should ordinarily be subjects of extradition proceedings, not prosecution witnesses.
According to the statement, Malami’s legal team has commenced steps to protect his rights, including requesting Certified True Copies of the petitions that allegedly triggered the investigation, as well as the EFCC’s investigation report, to enable him adequately prepare his defence.
“Let it be stated clearly: I seek no political settlement or inducement,” Malami said.
“My singular objective is to clear my name openly and transparently before a court of competent jurisdiction. Nigeria must not become a republic where anti-corruption agencies are tools of political intimidation. The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power and above persons.”
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to respond to Malami’s allegations.