Following a report by SaharaReporters that listed him among Nigerians allegedly related to terror financiers, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami fiercely denied accusations that he was involved in the financing of terrorism.
Two suspects detained in a counterterrorism probe were allegedly “linked to” Malami and other well-known Nigerians, according to the report, which was released on Friday.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), denied any role in financing terrorists in a statement posted on his Facebook site. He emphasized that he has never been indicted, investigated, or suspected of financing terrorism by Nigerian or foreign authorities.
“My attention has been drawn to a recent publication in which my name was mentioned in connection with allegations of terrorism financing and so-called ‘links’ to persons described as terror suspects or alleged financiers,” the statement says.
“I think the following clarifications are required for the sake of justice, truth, and public record.
“First, I declare categorically that I have never been accused, invited, questioned, investigated, or charged with terrorist financing or any associated offense by any security, law enforcement, regulatory, or intelligence organization, either inside or outside of Nigeria.
Second, the retired military commander who was identified as the main source in the aforementioned newspaper unequivocally acknowledged that he was not accusing me or any other named individuals of funding terrorism. According to reports, his own account was restricted to a nebulous claim that some suspects reportedly had “business” or “institutional” relationships with different people. Unfortunately, that crucial clarification was overshadowed by a headline and framing that could lead well-intentioned people to draw false and harmful conclusions. These conclusions were then politically manipulated by my political opponents to create mischievous insinuations suggesting my involvement in financing terrorism.
Financing terrorism is a serious crime that has disastrous effects on both human life and national security. Any attempt to link a person to such an offense, whether by direct accusation or indirect inference, must be supported by verifiable facts, due process, and legal conclusions rather than by guesswork, supposition, or guilt by association. It is dishonest and unfair to imply that legitimate professional or institutional interactions might be interpreted as proof of financing terrorism in the absence of more information.
For the avoidance of doubt, any suggestion that I was involved in the financing of terrorists is directly refuted by my official record in office. In my roles as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, I collaborated with other branches of government and pertinent organizations to fortify Nigeria’s institutional and legal framework against money laundering and terrorism financing, rather than undermine it.
“To meet international standards on operational autonomy and to restore Nigeria’s standing within the international financial intelligence community, the Federal Government established an independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) by law through cooperative work involving the Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Assembly, and other stakeholders.”
“The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which repealed the previous Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and offered a more thorough and strict framework for combating money laundering and related offenses, including those that may underpin terrorism financing, was something we supported and ensured was passed.
In a similar vein, we worked on the enactment and execution of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which updated offenses and penalties, strengthened Nigeria’s legal framework against terrorism, and strengthened provisions that specifically addressed financing of terrorism in accordance with international norms and United Nations obligations.
“To improve coordination, information-sharing, and compliance across the anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing (AML/CFT) architecture, my office worked closely with important domestic institutions, including the NFIU, the Central Bank of Nigeria, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies, as well as with international partners.”
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
