Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has issued a strong demand to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), insisting that he must either be charged before a competent court or released within 24 hours in line with constitutional safeguards against unlawful detention.
The demand was made public on Monday through a statement released by his media aide, Muhammad Doka. In the statement, Malami also called on the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, to withdraw from any involvement in the ongoing investigation against him.
Malami, who was recently detained by the anti-graft agency, accused the EFCC leadership of acting with bias and pursuing a personal and politically motivated agenda. He linked the alleged persecution to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to the statement, the former justice minister condemned what he described as unlawful detention, trial by media, and abuse of investigative procedures. He argued that the probe into his activities was not based on genuine law enforcement concerns but rather on long-standing hostility and personal animosity within the EFCC’s leadership.
Malami further stated that the circumstances surrounding the investigation show clear prejudice, adding that he has already been judged unfairly. He maintained that under the current leadership of the EFCC, he cannot expect a neutral, objective, or lawful investigation.