• ‘My record is unblemished,’ he insists

Immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of terrorism financing and suspected financial misconduct.

As of 10pm yesterday, Malami remained in EFCC custody after failing to meet his bail conditions.

According to sources, the former AGF is being questioned on issues relating to alleged money laundering, the operation of suspicious accounts, and major financial transactions traced to him.

EFCC investigators are also seeking explanations for:

• An alleged N10 billion investment in Kebbi State
• The $322 million Abacha loot repatriated from Switzerland
• An additional $22 million recovered from the Island of Jersey

He has also reportedly been asked to account for the utilisation of these funds.

A top EFCC official said:
“We have detained the ex-minister over terrorism financing allegations and the whereabouts of the Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland and Jersey. His sudden N10 billion investment in Kebbi State is under investigation. We may attach some of these assets.”

The source added that one of Malami’s wives may also be invited over her alleged connection to N4 billion Anchor Borrowers Programme funds linked to the case.

The official noted:
“He has a lot to clarify, but he has not been able to meet bail conditions.”

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Malami: ‘I have never been linked to terrorism financing’

Malami has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.

In a statement posted on X, he said he had never at any time been invited or investigated by any Nigerian or foreign agency over terrorism financing.

He stressed that the retired military officer cited in earlier reports had also admitted that he was not accusing him of funding terrorism, but merely referring to vague “business” or “institutional” links involving unnamed suspects.

Malami wrote:

“Terrorism financing is a grave crime. Any attempt to associate an individual with such an offence must be based on verifiable facts. To suggest that lawful professional engagements amount to terrorism financing is mischievous and unjust.”

He added that his public service record contradicts any insinuation of wrongdoing, noting his role in Nigeria’s Anti–Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) reforms and the country’s removal from the FATF Grey List.

“During my tenure as Attorney-General, I worked to strengthen — not weaken — Nigeria’s framework against money laundering and terrorism financing.”