Following a report by SaharaReporters that listed him among Nigerians allegedly related to terror funders, Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, fiercely denied accusations that he was involved in financing terrorism.
According to the report, which was released on Friday, Malami and other well-known Nigerians were “linked to” two suspects detained in a counterterrorism probe.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), denied any role in supporting terrorists in a statement posted on his Facebook site. He emphasized that he has never been charged, investigated, or suspected of financing terrorism by Nigerian or foreign agencies.
“My attention has been drawn to a recent publication in which my name was mentioned in connection with allegations of financing terrorism and so-called “links” to individuals described as terror suspects or alleged financiers,” the statement says.
“In the interest of justice, truth, and public record, I believe the following explanations are required.
“First, I declare categorically and absolutely that I have never been charged, accused, invited, questioned, or investigated for terrorist financing or any associated offense by any security, law enforcement, regulatory, or intelligence organization, either inside or outside of Nigeria.
Second, even the retired military commander who was quoted as the main source in the aforementioned newspaper unequivocally acknowledged that he was not accusing me or the other specified 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 individuals. Unfortunately, that crucial clarification was overshadowed by a headline and framing that could lead well-meaning people to draw incorrect 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 felony that has disastrous effects on both human life and national security. Any attempt to link someone to such an offense—whether by direct accusation or indirect innuendo—must be supported by verifiable facts, due process, and legal conclusions rather than by guesswork, speculation, or guilt by association. It is unfair and malicious to imply that legitimate professional or institutional interactions can be interpreted as proof of financing terrorism in the absence of more information.
For the avoidance of doubt, my public record while in government directly contradicts any suggestion that I was involved in the financing of terrorists. Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework against money laundering and the financing of terrorism was strengthened, not weakened, during my time as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. I collaborated with other branches of government and pertinent organizations.
In order to meet international standards for operational autonomy and to rebuild Nigeria’s reputation in the international financial intelligence community, the Federal Government, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Assembly, and other stakeholders, established an independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) by law.
“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 supported and enacted by us.
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 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 key domestic institutions, including the NFIU, the Central Bank of Nigeria, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies, as well as with international partners.”
