Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has refuted claims suggesting he is connected to terrorism financing, following a recent publication that mentioned his name alongside alleged terror suspects and supposed financiers.
In a statement posted on his official social media pages on Friday, Malami described the allegations as “unfounded and unfair,” emphasising that he has never been investigated, interrogated, or charged by any security or intelligence agency—within or outside Nigeria—over terrorism financing or related offences.
He pointed out that the retired military officer cited in the report had clearly stated he was not accusing him or anyone else of financing terrorism. Instead, the claims referred to alleged “business” or “institutional” interactions involving some suspects—details which Malami said were later twisted into misleading narratives used by political opponents for mischief.
“Terrorism financing is a grave crime. Any attempt to associate an individual with such an offence must be grounded in verifiable facts, not conjecture or guilt by association,” he said, cautioning against the misuse of routine institutional engagements to tarnish public officials.
Malami highlighted several reforms he championed as Attorney-General that strengthened Nigeria’s anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) systems. These include the establishment of an independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
He noted that these reforms—achieved in collaboration with the National Assembly, law enforcement agencies, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and international partners—formed part of the progress reviewed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the organisation’s grey list.
According to Malami, such internationally recognised progress “is entirely inconsistent with any suggestion” that he or those who led the reforms were shielding or supporting terror financiers.
While reaffirming his respect for the media’s role, he urged journalists to report responsibly, particularly on sensitive national security issues. He warned that careless or sensational storytelling can damage reputations and undermine public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting national security.