APC Chieftain Alwan Hassan Says Majority of Buhari-Era Ministers Should Face Prosecution

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has stirred intense political debate after alleging that as many as 95 percent of ministers who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari ought to be in jail, citing what he described as widespread impunity, weak oversight, and alleged corruption during the eight years of the Buhari administration.

Hassan made the explosive claim during a public discussion, excerpts of which have since circulated widely on social media, drawing renewed attention to unresolved corruption allegations linked to officials who served between 2015 and 2023. His remarks come amid growing scrutiny of several high-profile figures from the Buhari era, including former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as well as former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

Responding to questions about whether the renewed focus on past officials was politically motivated or overdue accountability, Hassan insisted that the Buhari administration represented an era in which ministers operated with unprecedented freedom and minimal supervision.

“Honestly, 95 percent of the ministers under Buhari should be in jail by now,” Hassan said. “There has never been a time in Nigeria when ministers were given such free hands without proper monitoring and consequences. The level of autonomy they enjoyed was extraordinary, and it created room for serious abuse.”

He further suggested that even the former president himself was aware of the excesses allegedly committed by members of his cabinet. According to Hassan, Buhari at various times cautioned his ministers to keep their records and documents intact, warning that a day of reckoning could come.

“You have heard what people are saying,” Hassan added. “The former president reportedly told them to keep their documents because a time would come when they would be asked to explain themselves. Maybe he already saw the signs of what was happening.”

Hassan’s comments have reignited public anger over unresolved corruption scandals that surfaced during the Buhari years, many of which involved massive sums of public funds. Nigerians have continued to question why numerous allegations—ranging from mismanagement of humanitarian funds to irregularities in oil revenues, security budgets, and intervention programmes—failed to result in swift prosecutions or convictions.

The Buhari administration, which campaigned heavily on an anti-corruption platform in 2015, was initially hailed by supporters for promising discipline, accountability, and transparency. However, critics argue that the administration fell short of those ideals, accusing it of selective enforcement, protection of political allies, and institutionalizing impunity within the ruling party.

Public distrust was further fueled by high-profile cases that appeared to stall or collapse in court, as well as the withdrawal of charges or freezing orders against politically connected individuals. Many Nigerians believe these developments reinforced the perception that the anti-corruption war was unevenly applied and deeply politicized.

Hassan’s remarks have also triggered broader conversations about continuity in governance, as critics point out that many individuals who served under Buhari remain influential within Nigeria’s political system. Some commentators argue that without systemic reform and genuine independence for anti-corruption agencies, prosecuting past officials will remain difficult regardless of public outrage.

While Hassan stopped short of calling for mass arrests, his comments reflect growing frustration within both the ruling party and the wider public over the apparent lack of accountability for alleged misconduct at the highest levels of government. His statements also underscore internal divisions within the APC, as some party members increasingly distance themselves from the Buhari legacy.

However, others have cautioned against focusing solely on punitive measures. They argue that while accountability is essential, Nigeria’s deeper challenge lies in building strong institutions, enforcing the rule of law consistently, and preventing corruption before it occurs rather than merely punishing it after the fact.

Still, for many Nigerians struggling with economic hardship, inflation, and declining public services, Hassan’s remarks resonate as a blunt acknowledgment of long-held grievances. To them, the issue is not merely about past administrations but about breaking a cycle in which political power appears to shield officials from consequences.