Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has denied insinuations linking him to terrorism financing, describing the claims as “unfounded, unfair and politically motivated.”
Malami said he had never been accused, investigated, interrogated or charged by any security, intelligence or regulatory agency within or outside Nigeria over terrorism financing or any related offence.
In a statement on Friday, the former minister said the publication that mentioned his name relied on “innuendo and conjecture,” adding that even the retired military officer cited as the source did not accuse him of funding terrorism.
He said the framing of the report created a misleading impression that was later weaponised by his political opponents to suggest wrongdoing.
His words: “Terrorism financing is a grave crime with devastating consequences for national security and human life. Any attempt—whether by direct allegation or indirect innuendo—to associate an individual with such an offence must be grounded in verifiable facts, due process and lawful findings, not in speculation or guilt by association.”
Malami said his tenure was marked by efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks, not weaken them.
He cited reforms such as the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as an autonomous body, the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He said the federal ministry of justice also worked with domestic and international partners to improve coordination and compliance within the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing architecture.
According to him, these reforms contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, a development which he said contradicts any suggestion of complicity in terrorism financing.
The former minister argued that public office requires constant engagement with individuals and entities across sectors, adding that such interactions should not be weaponised to malign one’s reputation.
Malami said careless reporting on terrorism-related issues risks damaging individual reputations and undermining public confidence in national security institutions.
He rejected the insinuations in their entirety and said he reserves the right to seek redress for any publication that misrepresents his role in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and the strengthening of Nigeria’s justice and security institutions.
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