Ex-AGF Malami Shedding Crocodile Tears; He Must Be Prosecuted— Deji Adeyanju Tells EFCC
Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to continue with the investigation and prosecution of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
This was just as he urged the anti-graft commission to ignore what he described as attempts by the former AGF to attract public sympathy.
Adeyanju, in a statement on Monday, faulted Malami’s claim that the EFCC is acting out of political vendetta, describing the allegation as baseless and regrettable.
“The comment of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alleging that the EFCC is on a political vendetta and therefore lacks the competence to investigate him is unfortunate,” he said.
He maintained that the anti-graft agency has a duty to investigate Malami’s conduct while in office, particularly on matters relating to recovered public funds.
“The EFCC should proceed without hesitation to investigate Mr. Malami, particularly in relation to his stewardship while in office of all issues surrounding the Abacha loot,” Adeyanju stated.
The activist stressed that holding public office comes with responsibility and accountability, insisting that no individual should be above scrutiny.
“Public office is a trust, and all past and present public officials must be prepared to give a full account of how that trust was exercised,” he said.
Adeyanju further argued that Malami’s record while in government does not support his current posture, noting that the former minister readily deployed state power against others.
“Malami showed no restraint while in government and wielded state power against everyone including members of the opposition. Having subjected others to prosecution, he cannot now escape from the same process,” he added.
Earlier, Malami had demanded that the EFCC either arraign him before a court of competent jurisdiction or release him within 24 hours, citing constitutional provisions against unlawful detention.
Malami made the demand in a release issued on Monday by his media aide, Muhammad Doka, in which he also called for the immediate recusal of the Chairman of the EFCC from the ongoing investigation against him, alleging bias, personal vendetta and political persecution linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress.