Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has refuted allegations linking him to terrorism financing, labeling them as unfounded and politically driven. In a statement released on Friday, he addressed a publication that suggested he had connections with individuals identified as terror suspects or financiers.
Malami firmly denied any accusations or investigations against him by any security or law enforcement agencies regarding terrorism financing. He emphasized that he had never been accused or interrogated in relation to such allegations, asserting that the claims were misleading and unfair.
He pointed out that even the retired military officer cited in the publication clarified that he was not accusing Malami or others of financing terrorism. The former minister criticized the misleading framing of the publication, which he believes was manipulated by political opponents to draw harmful conclusions about his character and actions.
Malami underscored the seriousness of terrorism financing as a crime that jeopardizes national security and public safety. He argued that any claims associating individuals with such offenses must be based on verified facts rather than speculation or guilt by association. He highlighted his contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s legal framework against money laundering and terrorism financing, including the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the enactment of relevant legislation.
He concluded by reiterating his commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing, noting that his efforts contributed to the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list.
