Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has been criticized by the Citizens Alliance for Rule of Law and Justice (CARoLJ), a civic watchdog group, for his recent criticism of the Bola Tinubu administration. The group describes Malami’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as an act of “political desperation dressed in borrowed morality.”
CARoLJ said in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, which was signed by Dr. Hamzat Tunde Ayoola, the group’s president, that Malami’s accusations that the current government is ignoring security and causing poverty in Nigeria are not only ironic, but also gravely offensive to the intelligence of Nigerians who experienced his tenure of constitutional vandalism and legal impunity.
“Abubakar Malami oversaw one of the most troubling eras in Nigerian legal history. Hearing him today talk about justice, equity, and national rebirth is like listening to a man trying to hide a history of blatant abuse of state authority, shielding of corrupt political elites, and disregard for court decisions, Dr. Ayoola added.
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The ADC provides a coalition to “rescue Nigeria from collapse,” according to Malami, who publicly announced his defection on Wednesday. Malami was the Minister of Justice from 2015 until 2023. He criticized the economic hardship and insecurity, especially in northern Nigeria, and charged that the APC-led administration puts propaganda above governance.
Malami’s newfound compassion for the suffering of the country, however, was deemed “both cynical and dishonest” by CARoLJ, who cited a lengthy history of policy failures, compromised prosecutions, and judicial sabotage during his tenure in office.
“Under Malami, the Federal Ministry of Justice turned into a weapon against the weak and a political shelter for the corrupt. He obstructed historic anti-corruption prosecutions, routinely disregarded legitimate court decisions, and oversaw a legal system that increasingly favored the wealthy at the expense of the populace, he claimed.
The group pointed to a number of instances in which Malami allegedly permitted impunity, including the contentious 2017 restoration of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team. Maina was smuggled back into the civil service despite being on trial for major pension theft, allegedly with Malami’s approval and knowledge.
“Malami owes Nigerians an explanation for the promotion and reinstatement of a fugitive who was accused of corruption. He stated that he should be permanently barred from holding any public office due to that issue alone.
The group also criticized Malami’s involvement in the contentious presidential pardon of two former governors who were imprisoned for embezzlement of public funds: Jolly Nyame of Taraba State and Joshua Dariye of Plateau State. Malami’s ministry handled the pardon, which was issued in 2022 under President Muhammadu Buhari and was strongly denounced by civil society organizations.
Malami assisted in obtaining clemency for men found guilty of stealing billions of dollars, while law-abiding Nigerians were imprisoned for small-time theft. He can no longer claim to be an advocate for the underprivileged.
Malami was also charged by CARoLJ with undermining Nigeria’s anti-corruption initiatives by giving rash legal advice, dropping cases too soon, and persistently interfering with the work of organizations like the EFCC and ICPC.
The civic group went on to list a number of significant corruption cases that were either mysteriously dropped or handled poorly under Malami’s direction. These cases included the well-known case of Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Petroleum Minister, and the contentious handling of oil contracts involving foreign interests, which resulted in settlements and court losses that cost Nigeria billions of dollars.
“Under Malami’s leadership, a number of historic corruption cases fell apart—not for lack of evidence, but rather due to tainted prosecution and political meddling. The administration experienced numerous legal setbacks overseas, particularly in the P&ID arbitration dispute, while Malami was in charge. This country suffered greatly as a result of his weak legal approach and politicization of key files. “We must not overlook Diezani’s case,” Ayoola remarked.
The group cautioned voters against falling for what it dubbed Malami’s “reinvention strategy,” characterizing his defection to the ADC as “a soft launch of his long-suspected ambition to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State.”
” Abubakar Malami’s decision to desert to the ADC is a planned attempt at rebranding by a guy who is yearning to get away from the shadow of his own legacy, not a patriotic one. We must not mislead Nigerians. You cannot act as the face of national rescue after years of constitutional sabotage, disregard court decisions, and defend looters. Ayoola stated, “Malami is joining the ADC to save himself, not to save Nigeria.”
CARoLJ criticized Malami’s demand that Nigerians use the ADC to “reclaim the nation” as being disingenuous.
Malami is claiming to be saving the same Nigeria that he assisted in bleeding for almost ten years. He now discusses banditry and suffering in the North, but he said nothing when Buhari destroyed communities in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Borno because he was too focused on political unification, according to Ayoola.
“To the people of Kebbi: During the years of banditry, Malami heard your pleas, and his only answer was silence. He is no longer able to pretend to be your liberator. The persistent attempt by disgraced political actors to conceal themselves under new parties and outdated slogans must be resisted by Nigerians. Accountability is the first step toward true reform, not desertion.
