Embattled former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has accused the EFCC Chairman , Ola Olukoyede of pursuing a personal vendetta against him.
According to Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the EFCC boss is after him because he’s privy to the report of the Justice Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry, which indicted Olukoyede.
Malami made the allegation amid his recent arrest and detention by the anti-graft agency for alleged abuse of office and corruption, while he served as the nation’s Chief Law Officer under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that Malami had last week accused the EFCC of denying him bail, even though the commission said the former Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice is being legally detained, against his claim that his continued detention has political undertone.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Malami Media aide, Mohammed Bello the ex- Justice Minister claimed that the EFCC boss has personal vendetta against him because, he, as the then Attorney General was privy to the indictment of Olukoyede by the Justice Salami Commission which indicted the agency boss for corruption and abuse of office while he served as the secretary to the commission at the time.
According to the statement, chapter nine of the report examined the conduct and responsibilities of senior EFCC officials and created personal and professional exposure for individuals now exercising prosecutorial authority over Malami.
Having being indicted in the report, Malami said Olukoyede cannot prosecute him, saying from all indication the EFCC boss cannot be neutral in the case, urging him to recuse himself.
According to him, the law on recusal is settled and is based on the test of reasonable apprehension of bias rather than proof of actual malice.
Malami said any reasonable observer aware of the circumstances surrounding chapter nine of the Salami report would conclude that he cannot receive an impartial investigation under the current leadership of the EFCC.
He said the Olukoyede-led EFCC is persecuting him because of some action he took while serving as Minister of Justice, which may have affected some top officials of the commission at the time, saying those officials are trying to punish him for some lawful policy decisions implemented under his watch as the nation’s Chief Law Officer., calling on Olukoyede to hand off any case related to him with the EFCC.
He, however, said he is prepared to submit himself to a neutral and independent investigative and court to prove his innocence of any allegation against him.
“This is not a personal dispute; it is a constitutional issue. If the EFCC is allowed to function as an instrument for the settlement of personal scores and grievances, then the rule of law itself is imperilled.
“Abubakar Malami, SAN, will continue to insist on justice according to law and due process, not persecution by power,” Malami said.
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