Abubakar Malami Vs EFCC: Between witch-hunt and corruption

By Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe

I have been following events between Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the EFCC in recent times. I must say I am disappointed with the way some so-called activists and social media rats are being sponsored to attack the EFCC with feeble attempts at misleading the public about EFCC operations and who Abubakar Malami really is.

Let me begin by saying that 85% of those publishing and calling the EFCC all sorts of names because of Malami’s case do not know who Abubakar Malami is. These people are sponsored maggots on social media. They are not lawyers, not prosecutors, but hungry e-rats who constitute a nuisance to our society.

The EFCC is doing one of the most difficult jobs in the world, fighting corruption in Nigeria. Let me also say clearly that Malami was my friend and my personal lawyer since 2006. As at that time, I knew the bank balance of his account in Bank PHB. That is why I said that 85% of those shouting political witch-hunt by the EFCC do not know anything about Malami.

Politics aside, if what the EFCC is doing is a witch-hunt, then it is a pleasant one, a pleasant witch-hunt that our country needs. The EFCC, I must admit, is not 100% clean, just like every human being and institution cannot be. But the question is, Malami has a right to defend himself, but in a court of law. If the EFCC is accused of media trial, then why are those defending Malami engaged in media defence?

Currently, I personally took the EFCC to court because I sent a petition to them, but they failed to investigate the matter. I asked my lawyers to sue them for failing to do their job. The EFCC Act clearly states what constitutes their mandate. So, I am not defending or speaking for the EFCC, but the truth must be told. What antagonists of the EFCC fail to understand, or the questions they should ask, is whether Malami committed those offences he is accused of or not. If anybody thinks Malami did nothing wrong, that person should go to court and face EFCC prosecutors.

Malami stopped picking my calls as Minister of Justice because I reported a case of corruption and extortion against his brother. Malami, as a friend, had an enlarged photograph of me and him in his Kano office dating back to 2006, but the day he became Minister, he removed it. As my lawyer and friend, I helped him a lot. When he wanted to be the National Legal Adviser of APC after the merger of CPC and other parties, I took him to Senator Kwankwaso, then my boss. Kwankwaso asked him to go and settle with Senator Adamu Aliero first and come back.

The road in front of his office beside Federal Government College Kano, Zaria Road, was not motorable. He begged me to talk to Senator Kwankwaso, who then asked the Commissioner of Works, now Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, to look into it, and it was fixed.

It was Malami, as my lawyer, that I sent to court to stop the former Minister of Sports, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, from contesting as President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, which led to the emergence of Engr. Habu Gumel as President till today, although unfortunately Gumel disappointed us. Alhassan Yakumut, the S.A. Technical to Ndanusa, knows about this.

I am narrating all this background to show that I know Abubakar Malami far better than those miscreants shouting on social media, disparaging the EFCC and even organising protests, unfortunately.

The transition of Malami into a multi-billionaire is something only he can explain. The EFCC is not stupid. They cannot just cook up charges and assemble assets simply for a witch-hunt. Malami should carry his own cross. No amount of intimidation can stop the EFCC from doing its job. The questions are simple. Malami should go and explain where and how he acquired all these stupendous wealth and assets. It is as basic and elementary as ABC. Besides, he is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

I personally have no sympathy for anyone who steals public funds once he or she is caught. Malami knows the offences he committed and the ones he did not commit. I once warned him about his son. I told him that it was too early for the lifestyle the boy was living and the wealth he was displaying.

The problem Malami is facing now is his supporters and followers. They are making his matter worse. Malami was an Attorney General under whom many people were denied their rights, even under the law. One of the reasons that brought misunderstanding and huge problems between Malami and Labaran Maku was the case involving Turaki, SAN, the current PDP Chairman, who at one time was Malami’s boss. Maku wanted to do his job on Turaki, but Malami did not want that, and the rest is history.

Abubakar Maina, the infamous pension fund thief, while a fugitive in Dubai, requested to meet Malami. Malami informed Daura, the former DSS DG, about the request by Maina to meet him. Daura gave him the go ahead, and at that time the National Security Adviser was also in Dubai. Malami invited him and they went to meet Maina. How can an Attorney General and Minister of Justice accept and go ahead to meet a fugitive declared wanted in another land?

The National Assembly called for a public hearing on this monumental national scandal, and during the hearing Malami admitted meeting Maina, who he met him with, and the clearance he got to meet him. As usual, till today the National Assembly has failed to tell Nigerians what happened to the report of the public hearing. Malami took some decisions and acted like a law school student while he was Attorney General of the Federation.

The issue is not about EFCC witch-hunting him; it is about his conduct while in office. I am not bothered about whose turn it is to be invited by EFCC. I am bothered about the offences one is accused of committing, be it a member of APC, PDP, LP, or ADC. EFCC cannot arrest everyone at the same time.

After I reported to Malami about a case of corruption and extortion one of his brothers was involved in, he stopped picking my calls. One day at the airport in Abuja, I saw him but ignored him. He came close and pulled my dress. As I turned, I saw him in the company of His Excellency, the Governor of Kebbi State, Bagudu. I told him openly that he refused to pick my calls. He then apologised. I refused his apology. Governor Bagudu intervened and I accepted his apology. Malami claimed that his phones were stolen at a wedding event in Kano. I then told him to stop saying that, that a Minister of Justice’s phone was stolen at a wedding event? We laughed over it. I, he, and Bagudu went to the protocol lounge and sat.

While waiting, I took my time to explain to him that his name was everywhere in the sports industry, that he was the one supporting corruption in NFA and NFF. I gave him all the details of the cases with EFCC, including reading to him the memo Magu wrote to the President on the difficulties EFCC was facing because of Malami’s involvement in prosecuting sports and football officials. He promised to give me an appointment to look into all the corruption cases in sports. It is now two years and seven months, and he again refused to pick my calls.

So, the sympathisers of Malami are saying that because he is in ADC, that is why he is being tried. So what? I have even seen someone that former President Jonathan sacked as Minister of Sports over the three-billion-naira High Performance Centre for sports Project, he is in ADC making noise. The moment he is arrested now, some people will start shouting witch-hunt. That is a story for another day.

Everywhere in this country, once you can share loot, you are a hero. Just hire some jobless miscreants on social media, give them data and a few naira to feed themselves, and they will come here and abuse everybody. Like I always say, the problem of Nigeria is not leadership alone, it is more about followership.

I Stand to disagree with Chinua Achebe that says the Problem of Nigeria is Squarely that of Leadership. Our problem is beyond Leadership rather it is Followership. The leaders emerged from us the followers, they are not from Jupiter or Mars. We accepted them as our elected representatives.

Shamelessly I watch a Video of some miscreants carry Cards, protesting “A SAKAI”, meaning ‘Release him’. The protesters are from Kebbi State! What a shame.

Malami with impunity shared SUVs as a sitting minister to more than 20 people in Kebbi State the same way Emefiele purchased more than 60 Seina vehicles branded with his name, campaigning for President as a sitting CBN Governor! I don’t even know where those vehicles are now. Yet, some people would have the gut to call EFCC witch hunters! The Followership who receives stolen money is as guilty if not guiltier than the looting Leadership.

Fred Ajudua, the foremost 419 marshal in Nigeria was declared wanted by police in the 90s.The day he was reporting to Alagbon Close, about twelve traditional rulers and title holders escorted him. When the police under AIG Nuhu Aliyu asked them why they followed him, they said “Fred is the only Government we know.” They said he was the one building their schools, providing water, roads and hospitals for them.

Ahmed Sani Yerima as governor supervised the cutting of hands of one Jangbebe for stealing a bicycle under his political Sharia Law. But after Yerima left office, ICPC arraigned him for an alleged missing N500m belonging to Zamfara State Water Corporation. The masses in Gusau protested, saying Yerima must be released.

When Olisa Metuh was accused of receiving N200m from arms deals as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, and the EFCC arraigned him in Court, about ten buses came from the East all the way to Abuja carrying placards and demonstrating that he was being witch hunted because of his Igbo ethnic identity.

When Attahiru Bafarawa, a former Governor of Sokoto State, was accused of receiving N2.5billion for special prayers from the infamous arms deals to organise prayers for former President Jonathan’s reelection, there was protest in Sokoto.

I was not surprised when I saw the video of some people protesting Malami’s prosecution in Kebbi State, many of them don’t even know the road to Abuja.

For those shouting watch hunt of the opposition, why did the EFCC not arrest David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and the likes? Those who don’t have skeletons in their cupboard would have no problems with EFCC.

Malami has a date in court. Let him defend himself. His supporters should stop these media attacks on the EFCC leadership and its operatives, they are not helping his case. He has done to many people, things worse than what his sympathisers are complaining about. Karma is real.

If prosecuting the likes of Malami is witch-hunting, then it is a pleasant one that we need.

*Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe is a public affairs commentator. He could be reached on [email protected]