The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, grilled a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) over allegations of corruption against him.
The former AGF has been on the radar of the anti-graft commission in respect of some bank accounts, assets and payments of judgment debts among others.
Details of his interaction with investigators were not made public.
However, reports quoting sources privy to the session said: “We have many allegations lined up against him. We have not accused him of anything at all.
“Our investigation is on. He interacted with our operatives on Friday. We were courteous to him. We respected the confidentiality of his appearance. But he has chosen to go public.
“We will have no choice to explain to Nigerians what he came to do and our findings.”
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said he has no details of the interaction with Malami because he is out of Abuja.
Malami personally confirmed the EFCC invitation through his X handle on Friday.
But he did not specify why he was invited or when he would appear before the commission.
He apparently made the pre-emptive move to beat the EFCC to it, and reduce the impact of the summon.
He said: “This is to confirm that that I have been invited by the EFCC.
“As a law-abiding and patriotic citizen, I hereby reaffirm my commitment to honour the invitation.
“I understand the spirit of accountability and transparency in public service -the principles that I both advocate and champion.
“Rooted in public service and in the spirit of transparency and accountability, I am committed to sharing with the Nigerian public the developments as they unfold.”
Malami served as Attorney General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023.
Questions have been raised about his role in the payment of $496 million to Global Steel Holdings Ltd (GSHL) as settlement for the termination of the Ajaokuta Steel concession nine years after the Indian company had waved all claims for compensation; the sale of assets worth billions of naira forfeited to the EFCC by politically exposed persons; the $419 million judgment debt awarded to consultants who claimed to have facilitated the Paris Club refunds to the states ; agreement to pay Sunrise Power $200 million compensation in its dispute with the FG over the Mambilla power project; and legal fees in the transfer of $321 million Abacha loot from Switzerland to Nigeria.
- Media Report