A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has refused a bail application by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Babangida Hassan, who presided over the case, ruled on Thursday that Malami’s detention is lawful and supported by a valid court order.
In the midst of the proceedings, former South-East spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, urged Malami to cooperate with the EFCC investigation rather than demand the recusal of its chairman.
In a statement from Paris, France, Onoh responded to Malami’s call for EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to step aside from the probe, citing alleged conflicts related to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report. Onoh argued that the report does not bar the EFCC from investigating former public officials and stressed that requests for recusal must follow the law and principles of fairness.
Onoh emphasized that the EFCC has the statutory authority to investigate economic and financial crimes independently and without fear or favour, noting that the Salami Panel was established to strengthen accountability and institutional integrity, not to grant immunity to any individual.
Highlighting Malami’s record as Attorney-General, Onoh pointed out that he oversaw and defended high-profile prosecutions widely criticized as politically motivated, involving court defiance and prolonged detentions.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for former AGF Abubakar Malami to accuse the EFCC of ‘personal vendetta’ when he himself orchestrated a campaign to remove former EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu in 2020,” Onoh said.
He recalled that Malami personally drafted multiple memos to President Muhammadu Buhari, levelling over 22 allegations against Magu, including diversion of recovered funds and gross misconduct. Malami also refused to appear before the Salami Panel, denying Magu the chance to confront his accuser. Critics described this as a “grudge war” leveraging Malami’s influence.
Onoh noted that Magu was never prosecuted or convicted, yet his career was effectively ended—a situation that mirrors the type of vendetta Malami now attributes to the current EFCC leadership.
He also cited Malami’s role in the prolonged detention of former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki, despite multiple court orders granting bail, as an example of Malami’s alleged use of prosecutorial power to settle political scores.
Onoh concluded that Malami cannot demand special treatment or call for recusal simply because he is now facing accountability.