Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN has distanced himself from insinuations linking him to terrorism financing describing the claims as unfounded misleading and politically orchestrated.
In a detailed statement released on Friday night Malami said his attention had been drawn to a publication suggesting that he alongside others had connections to individuals described as terror suspects or alleged financiers. He stressed that at no time in his public or private life had he been accused invited interrogated investigated or charged by any security or intelligence agency locally or internationally over terrorism financing or related offences.
According to him even the retired military officer cited as the publication’s key source admitted he was not accusing him or any of the other individuals of financing terrorism but merely referring to vague institutional or business interactions allegedly linked to certain suspects. Malami argued that the nuance of that clarification was lost in what he described as a headline crafted to mislead the public and weaponised by political opponents.
Terrorism financing is a grave crime he said adding that associating anyone with such an offence must be grounded in verified facts and due process not conjecture or guilt by association. He noted that attempting to twist routine professional or institutional engagements into evidence of criminal complicity amounted to mischief and injustice.
Malami maintained that his record in office stands in opposition to any allegation of terrorist financing. He highlighted numerous reforms undertaken during his tenure including the legal establishment of an independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 frameworks he said strengthened Nigeria’s fight against money laundering and terror financing.
He explained that his office worked closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria law enforcement agencies the NFIU and international partners to fortify the country’s Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (AML CFT) systems. These efforts he noted eventually contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list following subsequent work by succeeding administrations.
This kind of independent international evaluation Malami said is inconsistent with any claim that those leading such reforms were simultaneously aiding terror financiers.
Malami cautioned the media to approach matters of national security with precision and responsibility warning that careless reporting can damage reputations and erode public confidence in state institutions.
He rejected what he called insinuations and innuendo seeking to associate him with terrorism financing insisting they were baseless and contrary to documented facts. The former minister also stated that he reserves the right to seek legal or constitutional remedies against any publication that misrepresents his role or impugns his integrity.
Malami reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and to strengthening Nigeria’s justice and security institutions.
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