An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that one of the wives of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), will be interrogated as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged terrorism financing and money laundering.
The former minister is currently being detained by the anti-graft agency over accusations bordering on terrorism financing, operation of suspicious bank accounts, and management of large unexplained assets.
According to EFCC sources, Malami has been asked to account for an alleged ₦10 billion investment in Kebbi State, as well as the whereabouts of $322 million Abacha loot reportedly recovered from a Swiss account and an additional $22 million said to have been recovered from the Island of Jersey in the United Kingdom.
By late Tuesday night, the EFCC was still holding Malami in custody after he reportedly failed to meet his bail conditions.
A senior source within the commission told The Nation that the allegations against the former minister were extensive and would take several days to fully investigate. The source added that one of Malami’s wives was likely to be questioned over her alleged role in the handling of ₦4 billion under the Anchor Borrowers Programme funds advanced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The EFCC also indicated that some of Malami’s assets could be attached, pending the outcome of investigations into his sudden wealth and financial dealings.
However, Malami has flatly denied the allegations of terrorism financing, insisting that his record in public office contradicts the claims. He pointed to his role in Nigeria’s Anti–Money Laundering and Counter–Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) reforms and the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as evidence of his commitment to financial transparency and security.