A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has turned down a bail request filed by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The trial judge, Babangida Hassan, dismissed the application on Thursday, ruling that Malami’s detention was lawful and carried out pursuant to a valid court order.
Amid the legal proceedings, a former spokesman to President Bola Tinubu in the South-East, Denge Josef Onoh, advised Malami to cooperate fully with the EFCC investigation instead of calling for the removal of the commission’s chairman.
In a statement released from Paris, France, Onoh responded to Malami’s demand that EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede recuse himself from investigations involving him, a request Malami based on alleged conflicts connected to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report.
Onoh said he had carefully examined Malami’s argument and rejected his interpretation of the Salami Panel report, insisting that nothing in the document prevents the EFCC from investigating former public office holders. He added that calls for recusal must be grounded strictly in law and established principles of fairness.
He further stated that the EFCC is legally empowered to investigate economic and financial crimes without bias, stressing that the Salami Panel was created to promote accountability and institutional integrity, not to shield individuals from scrutiny.
“During his tenure as Attorney-General, Mr Malami oversaw and defended several high-profile prosecutions that were widely criticised as politically motivated vendettas against opposition figures from the previous administration, often involving defiance of court orders and prolonged detentions without trial.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for former AGF Abubakar Malami to now accuse the EFCC of ‘personal vendetta’ when he himself masterminded one of the most garrulous and vindictive campaigns to remove the former EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, in 2020.
“In a brazen display of power abuse, Malami, as Attorney-General, personally drafted and forwarded multiple memos to President Muhammadu Buhari, levelling over 22 weighty allegations against Magu, including diversion of recovered loot, insubordination, re-looting of assets and gross misconduct. These accusations stemmed from reported clashes between Malami and Magu over control of seized assets and high-profile cases.
“On July 6, 2020, Magu was dramatically arrested on the streets of Abuja and detained. The following day, July 7, President Buhari suspended him, establishing the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry—set up under Malami’s supervision—to probe the allegations.
“Malami refused to appear before the Salami Panel despite a subpoena, denying Magu the opportunity to confront his chief accuser. Critics, including members of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), described the episode as a ‘power play’ and ‘grudge war’ orchestrated by Malami, who exploited his proximity to the President to settle scores.
“Magu was never prosecuted or convicted on these allegations, yet his career was effectively ended. This aggressive, media-amplified pursuit exemplifies the very vendetta and persecution by power that Malami now falsely attributes to the current EFCC leadership.
“When Malami wielded prosecutorial authority, he showed no restraint in targeting perceived rivals. He cannot now demand kid-glove treatment or recusal simply because accountability has come knocking at his door.
“In the case of Col. Sambo Dasuki (former National Security Adviser), Malami initially defended the Federal Government’s refusal to obey multiple court orders granting Dasuki bail, leading to over four years of detention despite judicial rulings. This was seen by critics as a clear case of executive disregard for the rule of law to settle political scores.”
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