The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, denying the allegations of corruption levelled against him.
This follows a call from a coalition of Civil Society Organisations asking President Buhari to probe the AGF over 14 high-profile corruption cases and calling for his resignation.
The allegations levelled against Malami, by the CSOs include “financial fraud” and “influence peddling”, as well as “illegally” auctioning sea vessels holding crude oil seized by the Federal Government.
But the minister wrote to the presidency, insisting that he had declared all his assets and statements of accounts upon his assumption of office
Malami disclosed that apart from a successful legal practice of more than 20 years, seven of which were as a senior advocate of Nigeria, he had interests in business ventures allowed by law before withdrawing active participation upon his appointment.
The minister disclosed, for instance, that he established Rayhaan Hotels, Rayhaan Food and Drinks both in Kano State, since December 13, 2013, years before the 2015 election and long before his appointment as minister in Buhari’s first term.
Malami added that with the dissolution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC), those who lost out in the power tussle launched media attacks against his office and the present administration.
He writes, “Since my appointment as a Minister in your cabinet, I have conducted myself strictly within the confines of the Code of Conduct for public officers contained in part 1 of the fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.”
“It is to be noted that apart from my successful legal practice of more than 20 years, seven of which were as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), before my appointment, I have as allowed by law had interests in business ventures, all of which I had resigned from active participation upon my appointment,” he added.
Also in the letter, the Minister said he has also decided to seek redress in court.
The Minister has been accused of being behind the ordeals of the former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
