Malami Urges EFCC Chair to Step Aside, Alleges Political Persecution
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has called on the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to recuse himself from the ongoing investigation involving him, citing bias and political persecution.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami claimed that his detention, investigation, and the looming threat of prosecution were politically motivated, following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to Malami, the EFCC’s actions are not driven by genuine law enforcement objectives but by “longstanding animosity” and what he described as a “personal vendetta.”
He recalled that during his tenure as attorney-general, the Federal Government set up the Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC. Malami noted that Olukoyede served as secretary to the commission and alleged that the panel’s report—particularly Chapter Nine—contained serious findings against the EFCC chairman.
The former AGF argued that these circumstances clearly indicate that he has been pre-judged, making it impossible for him to receive a fair, impartial, and lawful investigation under Olukoyede’s leadership.
To safeguard public confidence and institutional credibility, Malami demanded that the case be reassigned to another competent law enforcement agency. He also urged the current Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to intervene by advising the EFCC chairman to step aside in order to prevent further damage to the institution.
Malami further insisted on either his immediate prosecution or release, stressing that if charges exist, he must be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours, in accordance with Sections 35(3), (4), and (5) of the 1999 Constitution.
He accused the EFCC of attempting to rely on individuals who have been convicted by foreign courts and are currently serving prison sentences abroad as witnesses against him, describing such an approach as “desperate, scandalous, and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”
The former justice minister disclosed that his legal team has formally requested certified true copies of the petitions forming the basis of the investigation, including one submitted by Human and Environmental Agenda on September 11, 2023, and another by Grassroots Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance. He also demanded certified copies of the EFCC’s investigation report, which he said are essential for the preparation of his defence.
Malami maintained that he is not seeking any political bargain or inducement, emphasizing that his only goal is to clear his name before a competent court.
“Nigeria must not descend into a republic where anti-corruption agencies are weaponised for political intimidation,” he warned.
He concluded by asserting that “the rule of law must remain supreme—above politics, above power, and above individuals.”
