Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In his book Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo described Malami as “the devil’s workshop”, alleging that corruption thrived under his watch. He accused Malami of fostering wasteful spending, shielding corrupt officials, and undermining anti-corruption efforts during Buhari’s tenure.
Obasanjo Questions Presidential Pardon for Convicted Governors
The former president highlighted how, despite the challenges of convicting high-profile politicians, former governors Joshua Dariye (Plateau State) and Jolly Nyame (Taraba State) were sentenced for corruption.
Dariye was sentenced to 10 years in prison for misappropriating N1.126 billion. Nyame received 12 years for embezzling N1.64 billion
However, both were released on August 8, 2022, just four months after receiving presidential pardons. Their pardon was approved at an April 2022 Council of State meeting, which was presided over by Buhari. The justification for their release was age and health concerns.
Obasanjo Alleges Malami’s Influence in the Pardons
Obasanjo argued that Malami played a key role in advising Buhari to grant the controversial pardons. He claimed that if he had attended the Council of State meeting, he would have advocated for their release based solely on health concerns rather than granting them a full pardon.
He further alleged that reports later surfaced indicating that neither of the governors had life-threatening illnesses, suggesting the health claims were fabricated.
Malami’s Alleged Role in Undermining Anti-Corruption Efforts
Obasanjo accused Malami of manipulating the legal system for personal and political gains, adding that Buhari ignored corruption within his administration while publicly claiming to fight against it.
According to Obasanjo, officials in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were deeply discouraged by the pardons, as they had worked hard to secure convictions for corrupt officials.
He concluded that Malami’s actions weakened anti-corruption efforts, leaving law enforcement officials frustrated and disheartened.
