Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has denied claims linking him to terrorism financing, describing the allegations as unfounded, misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement on Friday, Malami said his attention was drawn to a publication suggesting that he had connections with persons described as terror suspects or alleged financiers. He stressed that at no time had he been accused, invited, interrogated, investigated, or charged by any security, intelligence or regulatory agency in Nigeria or abroad over terrorism financing or related offences.
He noted that even the retired military officer whose account was referenced in the publication did not accuse him or the other individuals mentioned of financing terrorism. According to Malami, the officer merely made vague claims about some suspects having “business” or “institutional” relationships with several persons—remarks he said were blown out of proportion and manipulated by political opponents to create damaging insinuations.
“Terrorism financing is a grave crime. Any attempt to associate an individual with such an offence must be based on verifiable facts and due process, not conjecture or guilt by association,” he said, insisting that lawful professional or institutional engagements should not be misconstrued as evidence of criminal activity.
Malami argued that his record in office contradicted any attempt to link him to terrorism financing, noting that he played a key role in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing (AML/CFT) framework. Among these efforts, he listed the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as an independent body, the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
He added that his office worked closely with domestic and international partners to enhance coordination and compliance across Nigeria’s AML/CFT system—reforms which contributed to the country’s eventual removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
The former minister emphasised that public office requires broad engagement with individuals and institutions, which does not amount to complicity in the misconduct of any third party. He warned that careless reporting on sensitive national security issues could damage reputations and undermine public confidence in national institutions.
Malami rejected the allegations “in their entirety,” describing them as unjust, unfair and inconsistent with both his public record and Nigeria’s internationally acknowledged reforms. He said he remains committed to the rule of law and reserves the right to seek legal redress against any publication that misrepresents his role or impugns his integrity.
