The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has dismissed claims that the commission is persecuting a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, saying investigations against him began long before his appointment.
Olukoyede said this on Sunday while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid controversy over the EFCC’s probe of Malami and a court-ordered interim forfeiture of properties allegedly linked to the former minister and his family.
Responding to allegations of selective targeting, the EFCC boss said the investigation was neither personal nor politically motivated, noting that he inherited an already existing case file.
“There is nothing personal in this matter. The investigation of this man predated me in the office. A lot of people don’t know that. Yes, I inherited the investigation file,” Olukoyede said.
He explained that the case had been under investigation for nearly two and a half years, adding that charges were only considered after investigators were satisfied that there was sufficient evidence.
“What I did was to ensure that the investigation was carried out in a very professional and thorough manner. It has been under investigation for almost two and a half years. That file was opened long before me,” he said.
According to him, the EFCC only moves to prosecution when it is convinced that its case is solid.
“For the past two years that I’ve been in the office, we have been painstakingly carrying out the investigation, trying to establish some of these offences. Not until I was convinced that we had a watertight case,” he added.
Olukoyede also addressed claims that the probe was driven by vendetta linked to the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel, which Malami allegedly claimed indicted him.
“Those who claim that I was fraudulently or criminally indicted by the panel, the onus is on them to publish the report for people to see,” he said.
He noted that the panel was set up in 2020 and concluded its work in early 2021, while Malami remained Attorney-General until 2023.
“If he had access to the report, why was it not published for two years while he was still in office? Why is it now that investigations are ongoing that it has become an issue of persecution?” Olukoyede queried.
The EFCC chairman said he had never seen the panel’s report and could not comment on its contents.
“I have not seen the report of the panel. I won’t speak to what I cannot lay my hands on,” he said.
Explaining his interaction with the panel, Olukoyede said he was not the subject of the probe but was invited, along with other officials, as part of a broader fact-finding process.
“At that time, I was the secretary to the commission. Not only me, but about seven or eight directors and other staff were invited. I attended the panel twice and explained the statutory mandate of the commission,” he said.
He added that he later made statements to investigators after the panel’s report was forwarded for further inquiry.
“The investigation report in the EFCC cleared me. Secondly, the same presidency that set up that panel gave me a letter of clearance,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja last week ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the EFCC through its counsel, Mr Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
Confirming the development, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, said the properties, valued at about N213.2 billion, were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Oyewale said the assets are located across the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, and include hotels, university buildings, plazas, filling stations, warehouses, residential estates, shops, factories and large parcels of land.
