Laolu Akande, a former spokesman under the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s says he’s not surprised over the ongoing prosecution, for alleged corruption, of Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The former presidential aide said some officials in that government warned the former president of what was going on in the Ministry of Justice under Malami, but Buhari chose not to listen. Akande, was Senior Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo under the Buhari’s administration.
His remark comes barely a day after Justice Emeke Nwite granted Malami, his wife, and son bail to the tune of N1.5 billion.
The magazine had earlier reported that the former AGF and his alleged accomplices have been detained by the agency on the order of the court since last year.
While ruling on Malami bail application yesterday ,the judge said Malami and other accused persons must be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre till they perfected their bail conditions.
Reacting to Malami’s case with the EFCC, Akande who spoke on Channels Television programme on Thursday, stated that some officials in the Buhari’s administration “saw” what is now happening to Malami ahead of time, and warned the late president about it.
Malami is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly enriching himself while he served for eight years under that administration as AGF. He has been charged by the anti-graft agency for alleged money laundering to the tune of over N8 billion.
Other allegations the EFCC brought against the former AGF include that he corruptly acquired choice properties worth over N200 billion in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Kano, Kebbi and other parts of the country while he served under the Buhari’s administration. The properties have been confiscated by the EFCC acting on curt order pending the hearing of the case of corruption against him.
The former AGF however insisted on his innocence, saying his prosecution by the anti-graft agency has political undercurrents.
He has also accused EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede of sponsoring a campaign of calumny against him, citing the alleged indictment of the EFCC boss by the Justice Salami Panel, details of which he’s privy to due to his position as AGF then under the Buhari’s government.
He insist that he’s clean as a whistle of all the allegations brought against him by the EFCC, saying he will soon be declared innocent by the court of law. He also demanded the EFCC boss to recuse himself from his case, saying he ‘s witch-hunting him and biased.
In a statement released by Mohammed Bello Doka, his media aide last month, Malami said his detention, investigation and prosecution was politically motivated, particularly following his defection to the African Democratic Congress, ADC. Sources said the former AGF who defected to the ADC late year is gearing up to contest the Kebbi state governorship election in 2o27.
Malami claimed that the EFCC’s actions were driven by “historical animosity” and a “personal vendetta” rather than genuine law enforcement concerns.
He explained that while serving as attorney-general, the federal government constituted the Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC.
He noted that Olukoyede served as secretary to the commission, whose report, contains serious findings implicating the EFCC chairman, particularly in chapter nine.
Malami said the circumstances surrounding the current investigation showed that he had been pre-judged and could not receive a fair, objective or lawful investigation under Olukoyede’s leadership.
He asked that the matter be transferred to another appropriate enforcement agency to restore credibility and public confidence.
He called on Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation, to prevail on the EFCC chairman to recuse himself to prevent further institutional damage.
The former AGF demanded his immediate prosecution or release, insisting that he be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours in line with sections 35(3), (4) and (5) of the constitution.
Malami accused the EFCC of attempting to rely on individuals convicted by foreign courts and serving criminal sentences abroad as witnesses against him.
He described the alleged move as “desperate, scandalous, and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system”.
The ex-AGF stated that his legal team had requested certified true copies of petitions forming the basis of the investigation, including one by Human and Environmental Agenda dated September 11, 2023, and another by Grassroot Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance.
He also demanded certified true copies of the EFCC’s investigation report, which he said, were necessary to prepare his defence.
Malami said he was not seeking any political settlement or inducement, adding that his sole objective was to clear his name before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Nigeria must not degenerate into a republic where anti-corruption agencies are converted into tools of political intimidation,” he said.
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