Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN), spent Monday night at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), as interrogations over an ongoing investigation intensified.
According to an associate of the former minister, Malami was invited for questioning on Monday but arrived late in the evening, which resulted in him staying overnight to continue responding to investigators’ queries.
The associate also disclosed that 46 bank accounts allegedly linked to Malami are currently under investigation, forming a major part of the EFCC’s line of inquiry.
Following his initial interrogation on November 29, Malami had posted on X that the session “was successful” and that he had been scheduled for “further engagement” with investigators.
“The engagement was successful, and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement, as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continue to unfold”, he wrote.
Malami’s name appeared in several controversial deals under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The transactions include: The unexplained payment of $496 million to Global Steel Holdings Ltd (GSHL) as settlement for the termination of the Ajaokuta Steel concession — 9 years after the Indian company had already waived all claims for compensation.
Others are: The management and sale of forfeited assets worth billions of naira seized from politically exposed persons by the EFCC; His involvement in the $419 million judgment debt awarded to consultants who claimed to have assisted in the Paris Club refund process.
The rest are: the agreement to pay Sunrise Power $200 million as compensation in its dispute with the federal government over the Mambilla power project; Duplicated legal fees linked to the repatriation of $321 million Abacha loot from Switzerland to Nigeria.
Recall that Malami, on November 17, announced his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State.
He resigned from the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in July and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying his decision followed “wide consultations and deep personal reflection” and was motivated by “love for our nation and concern for the hardship our people are facing”.
The former AGF is expected to report to the Commission daily as the inquiry progresses.
