Malami to EFCC Boss: Step Aside or Take Me to Court, Stop the Witch-Hunt

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has openly challenged the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding that its chairman recuse himself from an ongoing investigation involving him. In a strongly worded press statement issued on Monday, Malami described the probe as a politically motivated witch-hunt driven by personal vendetta rather than a genuine pursuit of justice.

According to Malami, the investigation, his detention, and the accompanying media narrative are not coincidental but are rooted in deep-seated animosity allegedly held by the EFCC chairman. He linked this hostility to events dating back to his tenure as Attorney-General, particularly the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which examined corruption allegations within the EFCC itself. Malami suggested that the findings and fallout from that commission created a lingering grudge that has now resurfaced under the guise of an anti-corruption investigation.

In the statement, Malami accused the EFCC of engaging in what he called “illegal detentions, media harassment, and procedural abuses,” arguing that these actions undermine the credibility of the commission and erode public confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. He insisted that an agency led by an individual with a personal stake in his case cannot conduct a fair, impartial, or objective investigation.

“The present investigation bears all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance,” Malami stated, warning that allowing the EFCC chairman to continue overseeing the case would amount to a miscarriage of justice. He therefore formally demanded that the chairman step aside and that the investigation be transferred to another competent government agency capable of handling the matter without bias.

Beyond calling for recusal, Malami appealed to the current Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene, stressing that unchecked abuse of prosecutorial powers could cause lasting institutional damage. He argued that the integrity of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework depends not only on fighting corruption but also on adhering strictly to due process and the rule of law.

Central to Malami’s argument is his insistence on judicial oversight. He urged the EFCC to either charge him before a competent court or desist from what he described as unlawful detention and trial by media. Citing Sections 35(3), (4), and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, he maintained that only a court of law has the authority to determine guilt or innocence, not an investigative agency allegedly compromised by political interests.

Malami also raised concerns about the nature of the evidence and witnesses the EFCC intends to rely on. He accused the commission of planning to use “questionable witnesses,” including individuals previously convicted abroad, to shore up its case. Such an approach, he warned, would be “desperate, scandalous, and corrosive” to the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system.

The former justice minister disclosed that his legal team has formally requested certified copies of all petitions and investigation reports forming the basis of the EFCC’s actions. These include petitions reportedly submitted by Human and Environmental Agenda and Grassroot Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance. He argued that transparency demands that an accused person be fully informed of the allegations against him in order to mount an effective defence.

Malami concluded his statement by reiterating that his goal is not to evade accountability but to clear his name through lawful, transparent, and constitutionally grounded processes. He cautioned against the politicization of anti-corruption institutions, warning that selective justice ultimately weakens democracy rather than strengthening it.

“The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power, and above persons,” he declared, framing his confrontation with the EFCC as a broader test of Nigeria’s commitment to due process and the rule of law.

The statement was signed by Mohammed Bello Doka, Special Assistant on Media to Abubakar Malami, SAN, and has since ignited intense public debate, with reactions ranging from outright condemnation of Malami to broader questions about corruption fighting corruption and the credibility of Nigeria’s anti-graft war.