The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken possession of the international passport belonging to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged $490 million Abacha loot. This action follows a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request regarding the missing funds.
According to an EFCC source, Malami is barred from leaving Nigeria for the next month. One of the conditions of his release was that he must report daily to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for continued questioning.
The source clarified that while Malami is required to account for the whereabouts of the $490 million allegedly secured through the MLAT, he has not been accused of theft: “We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot.”
Malami criticized the allegations as fabricated and expressed confidence that the truth would emerge. A fact sheet on him highlights that he has several matters to discuss with the EFCC in the upcoming weeks.
The commission has stated that the seizure of his passport was necessary due to the extensive amounts of documentation he needs to review and the number of interviews required for the investigation. They emphasized their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation without engaging in public disputes over the matter.
