The EFCC on Saturday denied claims of political persecution as patently false and misleading.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it detained former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, for failing to meet the conditions attached to his administrative bail.
The EFCC on Saturday denied claims of political persecution as patently false and misleading.
In a statement issued, the anti-graft agency said it was compelled to respond to Malami’s public assertion that his bail was revoked because he attended a political gathering in Kebbi State, insisting that the Commission is apolitical and guided strictly by law.
According to the EFCC, Malami was granted provisional administrative bail after a brief interrogation on November 28, 2025, pending the conclusion of investigations and possible arraignment.
The bail, the Commission said, was conditional upon five clearly stated requirements, none of which the former minister has met.
“Administrative bail is a discretionary temporary reprieve that allows a suspect to be released on stated conditions pending conclusion of investigation and arraignment in court,” the statement said, adding that Malami “has neither met any of the requirements nor shown readiness to keep faith with them.”
The EFCC disclosed that Malami was scheduled to return for further interrogation on December 1, 2025, but wrote to the Commission on December 4, citing ill-health and requesting permission to attend to medical issues.
The agency said it granted the request on compassionate grounds, despite the fact that his bail conditions were still outstanding.
However, the Commission noted that Malami neither submitted a medical report nor provided any credible proof of ill-health to justify the repeated delays.
"He was initially required to commence reporting for further investigations on December 1, 2025 but this had to be deferred to December 4, 2025 largely owing to his “ Request for an Adjournment on Grounds of Ill- Health” . He neither provided a medical report nor credible proof of ill-health to the Commission’,” the EFCC said.
The agency added that it could not allow the latitude granted to the former minister to stall its investigation indefinitely.
Consequently, Malami was invited again on December 8, 2025, for further interrogation and was detained pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
Dismissing Malami’s narrative of bail revocation, the EFCC said his claims were untenable and described as ridiculous the allegation that the Commission barred him from granting media interviews or participating in political activities in Kebbi State.
“Evidently, the former minister’s claims of revocation of bail by the EFCC are untenable. It is equally ridiculous to insinuate that the Commission barred him “ from granting media interviews and from participating in political activities in Kebbi State”. Such bogus claims from a former chief law officer of the nation are strange, as the EFCC has no interest in the political affiliation of its suspects. It bears reiterating that the Commission is apolitical. A former governor and ranking member of the ruling party was recently arraigned for alleged contract fraud."
To underscore its claim of neutrality, the Commission pointed out that a former governor and senior member of the ruling party was recently arraigned over alleged contract fraud.
The EFCC advised Malami to focus on complying with the bail conditions he acknowledged and signed on November 28, rather than “whipping up sentiments through false claims in the media.”
“The Commission wishes to advise Malami to expend his energy on meeting the five bail conditions he acknowledged and signed on November 28, 2025.
"It would also serve his interest to cooperate with his team of interrogators rather than dissipate energy in whipping up sentiments through false claims in the media," EFCC added.