human rights advocate and lawyer deji adeyanju has criticized former attorney general of the federation and ex-minister of justice abubakar malami, advising him to take responsibility for his actions and stop what adeyanju termed as “shedding fake crocodile tears” concerning his looming investigation by the economic and financial crimes commission, efcc.
adeyanju dismissed malami’s assertion that the efcc’s move to detain and prosecute him is politically motivated, calling the claim baseless and deceptive.
malami was recently taken into custody by the anti-graft agency over alleged financial irregularities connected to his term as attorney general and justice minister.
despite this, the former minister maintains that the action against him is purely political harassment.
a number of opposition politicians have also spoken out against malami’s arrest, suggesting it is a strategy by the federal government to suppress critics and silence dissenting opinions.
in response, adeyanju urged the efcc to be resolute and thoroughly investigate malami’s alleged involvement in matters concerning the funds related to the late military ruler, general sani abacha, as well as other claimed corrupt transactions during his period in office.
in a statement titled “malami must be prosecuted by the efcc despite his crocodile tears,” adeyanju regretted malami’s accusations against the efcc that suggest the agency is motivated by political animosity and therefore unfit to investigate him.
he insisted that the commission should proceed immediately with examining malami’s conduct, particularly in relation to the abacha loot issue and his overall tenure in public office.
he further emphasized that holding a public office is a matter of trust and that both current and former officials must be fully prepared to account for how they managed that responsibility.
adeyanju also commented that malami himself allegedly used state power against political opponents with little restraint during his time in government.
he pointed out that since malami had overseen similar actions against others while in office, he should not now expect to be immune from prosecution.
adeyanju explicitly stated: “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. 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.”
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