Ex-AGF Malami denies financing terrorists, says he only engaged in ‘lawful professional engagements’

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has responded to report linking him to terrorism financing, firmly denying any involvement and insisting he only engaged in “lawful professional engagements.”

In a detailed statement, Malami said that at no point in his career has he been under any form of scrutiny connected to terrorism.

“At no point in my public life during or after my tenure has, he been summoned, questioned, targeted or investigated by any security, regulatory or intelligence authority in Nigeria or abroad in relation to terrorism financing,” he said.

Malami doubled down, saying the claims were completely unfounded. He stated:

“I state clearly and unequivocally that I have never at any time been accused, invited, interrogated, investigated or charged by any security, law-enforcement, regulatory or intelligence agency within or outside Nigeria in respect of terrorism financing or any related offence.”

He explained that the retired military officer quoted in the original report merely suggested that some unnamed terror suspects had “institutional” or “business” dealings with different persons, and did not conclude that such interactions amounted to supporting terrorism.

“That important clarification was unfortunately overshadowed by a headline and framing capable of misleading well-meaning members of the public into drawing inaccurate and damaging conclusions,” he added.

Malami said some political rivals seized the story and twisted it into a smear operation.

He insisted that linking normal professional activities to terrorism is dishonest.

He said: “To suggest that lawful professional or institutional engagements can, without more, be read as evidence of terrorism financing is both mischievous and unjust.”

He also defended his record in office, noting that he contributed to strengthening Nigeria’s security systems, saying:

“During my tenure, I worked with domestic and international partners to strengthen not undermine Nigeria’s anti-terror-financing regime. Any attempt to recast this as complicity is politically motivated and devoid of evidentiary basis.”

Malami added that Nigerians must be able to separate fact from political manipulation.

“Public discourse must differentiate between verified intelligence and politically massaged narratives presented as investigative findings,” he stated.

Although he denies any probe for terrorism financing, Malami was reportedly questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over other matters.

Sources confirmed he spent Friday in EFCC custody and nearly passed the night because of strict bail conditions, including the need for two permanent secretaries.

This comes after counter-terrorism investigation linking alleged terror financiers to top officials, including former AGF Abubakar Malami (SAN), ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, and former Army Chiefs Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) and Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd).

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