"Group Urges Malami to Address Corruption Allegations Instead of Blaming EFCC Bias"

Table of Contents

• HEDA Urges Malami to Submit to Investigation
• Statement by HEDA
• Criticisms of Malami
• Concerns About Credibility
• Career Advancements
• Perception of Targeting
• Court Decision on Asset Management Guidelines
• Call to Action

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to cooperate with investigations and address allegations of corruption and abuse of office, instead of making claims of bias and persecution.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA responded to Malami’s request for the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step down from an investigation involving him.

The organization characterized Malami’s assertions of bias and vendetta as an effort to distract from the allegations against him.

HEDA also criticized Malami for his failure to publish or officially release the report of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, despite numerous public requests following the completion of the panel's proceedings.

According to the group, the ongoing failure to release the report raises questions about the integrity of both the panel and the government that established it.

HEDA pointed out that several individuals who were summoned by or allegedly implicated by the Salami panel have since progressed in their careers.

The group highlighted the cases of former Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who returned to the Nigeria Police Force, achieved the rank of Assistant Inspector General, and subsequently retired, as well as Rotimi Oyedepo, who later became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and is currently serving as a presidential adviser.

HEDA stated that these developments have strengthened public perception that the panel was aimed at targeting specific individuals rather than pursuing institutional reform.

The organization identified Magu, Oyedepo, and the current EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who was the Secretary to the commission, as individuals allegedly targeted during Malami’s tenure.

It further claimed that the panel was used to target Magu for resisting interference in EFCC cases, Oyedepo for contesting the use of nolle prosequi in a case managed by the EFCC, and Olukoyede for opposing Malami regarding the management of recovered assets.

HEDA recalled that the Federal High Court in Lagos had annulled Malami’s asset management guidelines, deeming them illegal.

The group added that the failure to release the Salami panel report undermines Malami’s reliance on the process to substantiate his claims of persecution.

HEDA urged Malami to permit lawful investigations to continue and to refrain from actions that could jeopardize anti-corruption institutions.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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