The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed not to bow to alleged blackmail by Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.
Malami was detained on Friday by the commission over alleged abuse of office and corruption while he served under late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister has alleged that his detention was politically motivated, saying his bail should not have been revoked.
The commission, in a statement, on Saturday described the claims of Malami, about a purported revocation of “his bail over attendance at a political gathering in Kebbi,” as false saying its operations are apolitical.
According to the anti-graft agency, administrative bail is a discretionary temporary reprieve that allows a suspect to be released on stated conditions pending conclusion of investigation and arraignment in court.
To this effect, Malami after his brief interrogation on November 28, 2025, was offered provisional bail hinged on five requirements. He has neither met any of the requirements nor shown readiness to keep faith with them.
He was due back for further interrogation on December 1, 2025 , but in a curious twist, the former Minister pleaded with his investigators through a letter written to the Commission on December 4, 2025, to allow him to attend to his “ill-health”. The Commission compassionately granted his plea even while his bail conditions had not been met.
He was initially required to commence reporting for further investigations on December 1, 2025 but this had to be deferred to December 4, 2025 largely owing to his “ Request for an Adjournment on Grounds of Ill- Health” . He neither provided a medical report nor credible proof of ill-health to the Commission
The EFCC said it cannot allow the latitude granted the former Minister on his health stand in the way of investigations . On this score, he was invited again on December 8, 2025 for further interrogation and detained until the pending bail conditions are met.
The agency stressed that the former minister’s claims of revocation of bail by the EFCC are untenable. It is equally ridiculous to insinuate that the Commission barred him “ from granting media interviews and from participating in political activities in Kebbi State”.
Such bogus claims from a former chief law officer of the nation are strange, as the EFCC has no interest in the political affiliation of its suspects. It bears reiterating that the Commission is apolitical. A former governor and ranking member of the ruling party was recently arraigned for alleged contract fraud, the commission said.
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