Ex-AGF Malami Declares EFCC Probe a ‘Witch-Hunt’, Urges Chairman to Recuse Himself
Abuja, Nigeria, December 15, 2025
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has formally challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) ongoing investigation into his activities, accusing the anti-graft agency of conducting a politically motivated “witch-hunt.”
In a statement issued on Monday through his media aide, Malami described his detention and the threat of prosecution as rooted in personal animosity and political vendettas rather than legitimate law-enforcement objectives. He linked the probe to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that this political move triggered retaliatory actions from the EFCC leadership.
Malami further claimed that the EFCC Chairman harbors a historical grievance against him dating back to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which examined alleged corruption within the EFCC while Malami served as the nation’s chief law officer. According to Malami, the commission’s findings implicating the current EFCC Chairman have fuelled personal animosity that now taints the investigation.
Describing the conduct of the EFCC as marked by “illegal detentions, media harassment, and procedural abuses,” Malami said the current leadership cannot be trusted to conduct an impartial or lawful investigation. He has demanded that the EFCC Chairman step aside and that the matter be transferred to another government enforcement agency to restore public confidence.
Malami also urged the current Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene to prevent what he described as institutional damage and abuse of prosecutorial powers. Emphasising his commitment to due process, he called for judicial oversight and immediate arraignment before a competent court under Nigeria’s Constitution, arguing that only a court, not a politically compromised agency—can fairly adjudicate the case.
The former minister additionally accused the EFCC of intending to rely on questionable witnesses, including individuals convicted abroad, to bolster its case, a move he labelled “desperate, scandalous, and corrosive to the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”
Malami’s office has also requested certified copies of the petitions and investigative reports that form the basis of the EFCC’s actions, citing submissions by civil society groups such as Human and Environmental Agenda and Grassroots Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance.
In his statement, Malami reiterated his goal of clearing his name through lawful judicial processes and warned against the politicisation of anti-corruption agencies. “The law must remain supreme—above politics, above power, and above persons,” the release said.