By Muhammad Mamman
Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has categorically rejected claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he duplicated the recovery process of the Abacha loot, a sum initially reported at $310 million and later adjusted to $322.5 million including interest.
In a statement released on Sunday, Malami described the allegations as “baseless, illogical and wholly devoid of substance,” asserting that the claims have no factual or legal foundation.
The EFCC had accused the former minister of allegedly creating a parallel recovery channel for the funds, which were originally seized as part of Nigeria’s effort to repatriate assets looted by former military ruler Sani Abacha. The recovered funds have long been a subject of controversy and public scrutiny, given Nigeria’s history of corruption and mismanagement of state resources.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has been a central figure in Nigeria’s ongoing anti-corruption campaigns, often attracting both praise and criticism for his handling of high-profile cases. The former minister emphasized that all recovery efforts he led were in strict compliance with the law and coordinated with relevant authorities.
Legal experts say that the EFCC’s claims, if proven, could complicate Nigeria’s anti-graft initiatives, which are already under intense public and international scrutiny. Malami, however, maintained that the process he oversaw was transparent and properly documented.
The EFCC has not yet responded to Malami’s denial.
