Malami Refutes Terrorism Financing Claims, Labels Allegations Political and Baseless
A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has strongly denied claims linking him to terrorism financing, describing the allegations as unfounded, misleading, and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Friday, Malami said his attention had been drawn to a report suggesting that he, alongside other individuals, had connections to persons labeled as terror suspects or alleged financiers.
The former minister described the report as “unfounded, unfair, and contrary to both my record in public office and verifiable facts.” He clarified that he has never been accused, invited, interrogated, investigated, or charged by any security, law-enforcement, regulatory, or intelligence agency—inside or outside Nigeria—over terrorism financing or related offences.
Malami further noted that even the retired military officer cited as the source in the publication had admitted he was not accusing Malami or others of financing terrorism. He stressed that the officer’s claims were limited to vague assertions about “business” or “institutional” interactions with certain suspects.
“The clarification provided by the source was overshadowed by headlines and narratives that could mislead the public into false conclusions,” Malami said. He argued that the allegations were politically manipulated to create the false impression of his involvement in terrorism financing.
He emphasized that terrorism financing is a serious crime with devastating implications for national security and human life, and any claims against an individual must be based on verifiable evidence, due process, and lawful findings—not speculation or guilt by association.
Malami highlighted reforms he introduced as Attorney-General, including the establishment of the independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. These measures, he said, strengthened coordination among relevant agencies and contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
“Engagement with a broad range of individuals is a normal aspect of public service and should not be misinterpreted as wrongdoing,” Malami stated. He urged the media to report responsibly on national security issues, warning that careless publications could damage reputations and weaken public confidence in state institutions.
The former minister reiterated his commitment to the rule of law and Nigeria’s international obligations, noting that he reserves the right to seek redress against any publication that misrepresents his role in combating money laundering and terrorism financing
Category: Politics / National Security / Law & Governance
