Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, has reignited controversy surrounding alleged corruption by Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, asserting that officials have so far uncovered only a fraction of the purportedly misappropriated funds linked to the high-profile case. Maina’s remarks come as Malami continues to face legal challenges and heightened scrutiny over allegations of financial misconduct.
Speaking at the Rule of Law and Courage Award ceremony hosted by the Garki branch of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja, Maina questioned the scope of financial assets currently attributed to Malami in the course of investigations. “Malami allegedly stole a lot of funds. What the government has seen so far is not even one quarter,” he said, challenging authorities and investigators to intensify their efforts to trace and recover additional assets. “We can recover these funds from Malami. There is more than what has been seen. What is 270 billion?” Maina added, referring to the sum of assets publicly linked to Malami thus far.
Maina, himself a central figure in Nigeria’s anti-graft discourse over the past decade, commended the current federal administration’s approach to transparency, accountability and due process — contrasting it with what he described as the performance of previous governments under the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He emphasised that maintaining the rule of law remains essential to the integrity of ongoing investigations and asset recovery efforts.
In his address, Maina also recounted a past encounter involving senior Nigerian officials, alleging that he had been personally urged to return to Nigeria from abroad by a delegation that included former President Buhari, former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, former National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and Malami himself. According to Maina, the delegation’s objective was linked to discussions about recovered funds from prior anti-corruption efforts — including a substantial recovery allegedly achieved during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, which could be verified by former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, he claimed.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 until 2023, is currently entangled in a trial relating to money laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The case involves his wife and son, and followed Malami’s arraignment on 16 counts alleging conspiracy, concealment and laundering of proceeds from unlawful activities. Earlier this month, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail in the sum of ₦500 million, a decision that followed prolonged detention and legal proceedings.
Beyond the courtroom, Malami’s assets have attracted significant attention from both investigators and the public. Court orders have been issued for the interim forfeiture of dozens of properties allegedly linked to Malami and his family, with values in excess of ₦213 billion across multiple states, including Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi. Owners or claimants have been given an opportunity to contest the forfeiture in court, but failure to substantiate lawful acquisition could lead to permanent government control of these assets.
Maina’s outspoken criticism arrives amid broader debates in Nigeria over effective strategies to combat entrenched corruption and recover stolen public assets. In recent weeks, discussions have surfaced among political actors, civil society and legal experts regarding the potential role of negotiated resolutions or amnesties in securing cooperation from suspects or facilitating asset repatriation. Maina firmly rejected any notion of amnesty or leniency for individuals accused of orchestrating high-level corruption, warning that such approaches could undermine justice and embolden others implicated in similar misconduct.
His remarks have sparked renewed public interest and debate, especially as Nigerians observe ongoing proceedings and await further revelations from investigative agencies. Critics of the current approach argue that without comprehensive transparency and a willingness to hold powerful figures fully accountable, public trust in anti-corruption efforts could erode further. Supporters of deeper probe efforts maintain that exhaustive investigations are necessary to unearth the full scope of alleged financial crimes and ensure that all implicated assets are recovered and restored to the public treasury.
Observers note that the alignment of civil society sentiment with demanding accountability from political elites reinforces the urgency for robust legal and institutional mechanisms to deter corruption. While Maina’s assertions remain unverified in terms of actual asset figures and recovered funds, they have undoubtedly intensified scrutiny on Malami’s case and amplified calls for clarity on the full financial trail.
As the legal process unfolds and investigative bodies continue their work, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether authorities can substantively expand the list of identified assets and pursue comprehensive recovery — moving beyond the figures that have so far dominated public discourse.
Overall, Maina’s intervention underscores a broader narrative about corruption, accountability and the rule of law in Nigeria’s governance landscape, highlighting the complex interplay between political history, high-stakes legal battles and public demand for integrity in public finance.
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