Abubakar Malami, CON, SAN (born April 17, 1967), is a Nigerian legal practitioner and politician who held the position of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation between 2015 and 2023.
Abubakar Malami Wiki
| Born Date | 17 April 1967 |
| Place Of Birth | Birnin Kebbi, Norther Region (now in Kebbi State), Nigeria |
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| Political Party | All Progressive Congress |
Early Life
Abubakar Malami, a Fulani and practicing Muslim, was born on April 17, 1967, in Birnin Kebbi, the capital city of Kebbi State in Northern Nigeria.
He began his early education at Nassarawa Primary School in Birnin Kebbi and later attended the College of Arts and Arabic Studies for his secondary education.
In 1991, he earned a law degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992. He furthered his studies at the University of Maiduguri, where he obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration in 1994.
Following his academic journey, Malami ventured into legal practice, taking on roles such as state counsel and magistrate within Kebbi State.
Early political career
Malami once served as the National Legal Adviser for the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He played a significant role in the establishment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, contributing as a resource person to the Manifesto Drafting Sub-Committee formed during the merger talks involving the CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
In 2014, he sought the APC gubernatorial ticket in Kebbi State but eventually withdrew from the race during the primaries, stepping aside for Atiku Bugudu.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
On November 11, 2015, Abubakar Malami was appointed as Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, becoming the youngest member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet at the time.
He was later reappointed to the same position by President Buhari on August 21, 2019, continuing his service in that capacity.
Tenure
In December 2017, Malami revealed that the Nigerian government had reached a deal with the United States and Jersey for the repatriation of over $300 million looted and hidden abroad by former military ruler, General Sani Abacha.
The formal agreement was signed in February 2020, with Malami stating that the recovered funds would be used to finance major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, the Abuja–Kano highway, and the Second Niger Bridge.
In June 2020, Malami submitted a petition to the federal government requesting the removal of Ibrahim Magu, then Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He accused Magu of misconduct, including diverting recovered assets and insubordination. Magu denied the allegations and called on Malami to present concrete evidence. On July 7, 2020, Magu was suspended and later replaced as EFCC Chairman.
That same month, Malami also addressed the issue of unpaid stamp duties, informing state governors that no such duties had been recovered between 2016 and 2020.
He called on ministries, departments, agencies, and relevant government bodies to cooperate with appointed recovery agents in auditing and retrieving outstanding stamp duty payments.
In October 2020, Malami’s office secured a major legal victory when Nigeria won a seven-year-long arbitration case against Interocean Oil at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
The ruling saved the Nigerian government from paying $1.5 billion in damages and awarded $660,000 in arbitration costs to Nigeria.
According to Nelogram, Abubakar Malami also authored a revealing memoir titled “Traversing the Thorny Terrain of Nigeria’s Justice Sector; My Travails and Triumphs.” The book offers insights into his experiences and challenges during his tenure as Attorney General of the Federation.
Corruption and professional misconduct allegations
Attempts to remove SAN rank
In June 2019, Abubakar Malami appeared before a disciplinary panel convened by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), following a petition seeking the revocation of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title due to alleged professional misconduct.
However, the petition was dismissed due to procedural lapses by the complainant.
The controversy resurfaced in 2020 when legal practitioner Izu Aniagu filed a fresh petition with the LPPC, again requesting the withdrawal of Malami’s SAN status.
The petition, which garnered support from over 10,000 online signatories, alleged that Malami had unlawfully removed certain clauses from the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners without following due process.
Later that year, Aniagu accused the LPPC and the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, of deliberately ignoring his complaint.
Oil asset auction
Amid tensions between Abubakar Malami and then-EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, reports surfaced in July 2020 highlighting a dispute over the management of seized assets.
One of the key flashpoints was Malami’s decision to authorize the auction of several vessels laden with crude oil and diesel. The vessels were auctioned by Omoh-Jay Nigeria Ltd., a company previously linked to theft allegations.
Despite the controversy, Malami’s spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, defended the move, insisting the auction process was legal and that Omoh-Jay should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Gwandu further stated that the allegations surrounding the auction and other corruption claims had caused Malami significant emotional distress, anxiety, and had damaged his personal and professional reputation.
Family wealth
Investigative reports by Sahara Reporters have accused Abubakar Malami and his family of accumulating significant “unexplained wealth” during his tenure as Attorney General.
According to these reports, Malami was linked to the ownership of multiple high-value properties, including a hotel in Sokoto, four houses in Abuja, a school in Birnin Kebbi, and another hotel under construction in the capital.
Additionally, it was alleged that he purchased two homes in Birnin Kebbi for his sons and established an event center, Azbir Arena, for one of them.
His sons were also reportedly seen driving luxury vehicles despite having no publicly known sources of income. The family was even observed disembarking from private chartered jets during a family wedding in Birnin Kebbi.
Following the release of these reports in July 2020, Malami’s legal counsel, Sunday Ameh, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, requesting a formal investigation into Sahara Reporters and its founder, Omoyele Sowore.
In a separate move, Malami addressed President Muhammadu Buhari in August, asserting that his wealth originated from business ventures and investments made before his appointment as Attorney General.
He also claimed that all his assets were properly declared in the asset declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau in both 2015 and 2019.
Alleged diversion of recovered money
In May 2021, Abubakar Malami appeared before a House committee to address allegations regarding the diversion of recovered laundered funds that were intended for Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Account, along with other suspected irregularities.
Malami and his office were accused by several Representatives, including committee chair Adejoro Adeogun, of misappropriating around ₦800 billion of recovered loot to improperly fund the office’s budget.
Malami refuted these claims, stating that his office had not received any funds from the recovered assets account. Additionally, the Accountant General, Ahmed Idris, backed Malami’s defense, explaining that both the consolidated revenue and recovered loot accounts are part of the same Treasury Single Account, which may have caused confusion regarding the fund’s allocation to the AGF office.
The following day, Adeogun and other members of the committee continued their questioning, this time raising concerns about a reported ₦2 billion payment made by the Central Bank of Nigeria to Malami and an alleged request from him for “approved solicitors’ fees” to be paid from the recovered loot account.
Malami denied requesting any payments from the recovered loot account but refrained from commenting on the ₦2 billion payment from the CBN.
In August 2021, the Attorneys-General of all 36 Nigerian states filed a lawsuit against Malami, accusing him of failing to distribute the recovered funds to the states as required.
Interference in corruption investigation
As Attorney General, Malami holds the authority to intervene in or take over any prosecution, a power he has been accused of using to halt legal proceedings against his political allies.
Some of the high-profile cases Malami intervened in and later withdrew include those involving Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), former Senate President Bukola Saraki, three former Katsina State officials, accused money launderer Akinola Ogunlewe, and notably, the case against Gombe Central Senator and former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje.
Goje’s ₦25 billion fraud trial, which had been ongoing for eight years, was discontinued shortly after Goje agreed to support President Buhari’s preferred candidate for Senate President.
As public outrage mounted over these interventions, Malami defended his actions by asserting that if he were truly aiming to obstruct corruption investigations, he would have dismissed all corruption cases handled by the EFCC. He also described the case against Goje as weak.
In August 2021, reports surfaced suggesting that Malami was backing a proposed bill that would centralize prosecutorial and investigative powers within the Office of the Attorney General.
If passed, the bill would place anti-corruption agencies under the AG’s office, effectively removing their independence. Sahara Reporters claimed that Malami’s objective was to eliminate legal actions against his allies.
Just three months later, Malami took action that seemed to support this theory, sending a letter to the EFCC to stall the corruption trial of former Aviation Minister and Anambra North Senator, Stella Oduah, shortly after she defected to the APC.
Philanthropy
Abubakar Malami co-founded the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative (KJDI), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing human welfare by improving access to justice and investing in human capital.
The NGO aims to uplift rural communities by improving living conditions through the provision of essential social services. It supports these communities by supplying food, medical care, clean water, and creating employment opportunities.
During the economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, KJDI played a crucial role in securing and distributing ₦3.2 billion in credit facilities to nearly 5,900 individuals across 21 local government areas in Kebbi State.
This initiative was focused on poverty alleviation and youth empowerment. Additionally, as part of the foundation’s charitable efforts, Malami donated ₦16 million to flood victims in Kebbi and provided a 110 KVA generator to Equity FM Radio Station in Birnin Kebbi.
KJDI also contributed significantly to rural development by installing 236 boreholes in underserved communities.
Awards
- 2020, awarded as anti-corruption crusade of the President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration by Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative, Charted Institute of Forensic Investigative Professionals of Nigeria, Charted Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics, Ghana, Security and Forensic Studies and others.
- 2020, Best Minister award by Face of Democracy Nigeria Project.
- 2020, Peace Achievers International Awards of Excellence, Leadership Prowess: Justice and Equity by Achievers International.
- 2021, awarded as the Most Outstanding Icon of Unity and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria by Ndi Igbo Worldwide
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- 2022, Nigerian national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
Honours
Abubakar Malami has received several prestigious honors throughout his career for his outstanding contributions to law and public service.
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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) – In 2008, Malami was conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the highest professional honor for a lawyer in the country, recognizing his excellence and leadership in the legal profession.
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Life Bencher (2020) – Malami was named a Life Bencher in 2020, a distinguished honor that recognizes his significant contributions to the Nigerian legal system and his commitment to the advancement of justice.
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Doctorate Degree in Law (Honoris Causa) – Malami was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in law, further cementing his stature as a respected figure in the legal and public service sectors.
FAQ
Why Abubakar Malami Is Trending
Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has been making headlines recently due to fresh political criticisms and the revival of past allegations during and after his time in office.
1. Criticism from APC’s North-Central FactionA prominent group within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the North-Central region has openly criticized Malami, blaming him for contributing to several setbacks experienced under the Buhari administration.
According to the group, Malami’s legal and political decisions harmed the party’s reputation and governance record, triggering renewed tensions within the party.
2. Dispute with Tanko Al-MakuraMalami has also come under fire for his response to statements made by former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura. Al-Makura had suggested that the former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc of the APC should consider an alliance with Atiku Abubakar. Malami’s criticism of this idea did not sit well with many within the party, deepening internal disagreements.
3. Denial of Allegations in Obasanjo’s BookFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo recently claimed in his latest book, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” that the presidential pardon process during Malami’s tenure was tainted by corruption.
Malami has dismissed the accusation, saying the Attorney General does not singlehandedly approve pardons but simply submits recommendations from a presidential advisory committee.
4. Renewed Focus on Past ControversiesSeveral past allegations against Malami have resurfaced and are now being revisited by both the media and anti-corruption watchdogs. These include:
- Secret Award of Recovery Contracts: Malami was previously accused of awarding high-value asset recovery deals to selected firms without due process.
- Luxury Vehicle Distribution: He reportedly gave out dozens of luxury cars worth billions of naira to political allies in Kebbi State.
- Alleged Interference in Corruption Cases: A leaked recording once implicated Malami in attempts to influence how the EFCC handled certain high-profile investigations.
As these issues return to the spotlight, public interest in Malami has spiked again, leading to his name trending across social media and news platforms.