Malami Denies Terrorism Financing Allegations
A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has dismissed insinuations that he was financing terrorism, describing the allegations as baseless, misleading and politically motivated.
Malami, in a statement on Friday, said his attention was drawn to a publication suggesting that he and other individuals had connections to persons described as terror suspects or alleged financiers.
The publication had mentioned Malami’s name in connection with allegations of terrorism financing and “links” to persons described as terror suspects or alleged financiers.
The former minister, however, described the claims as “unfounded, unfair and contrary to both my record in public office and objective facts.”
Malami stressed that he had never been accused, invited, interrogated or investigated by any security, law-enforcement or intelligence agency within or outside Nigeria on terrorism financing or any related offence.
He said, “First, I state clearly and unequivocally that I have never at any time been accused, invited, interrogated, investigated or charged by any security, law-enforcement, regulatory or intelligence agency—within or outside Nigeria—in respect of terrorism financing or any related offence.
“Secondly, even the retired military officer cited as the principal source in the said publication categorically admitted that he was not accusing me, or other named individuals, of financing terrorism.
“His own account, as reported, was limited to a vague assertion that certain suspects allegedly had some form of ‘business’ or ‘institutional’ relationship with various persons.
“That important clarification was, unfortunately, overshadowed by a headline and framing capable of misleading well-meaning members of the public into drawing inaccurate and damaging conclusions, which were unfortunately politically manipulated by my political opponents to create mischievous insinuations implying my involvement in terrorism financing.
“Terrorism financing is a grave crime with devastating consequences for national security and human life. Any attempt—whether by direct allegation or indirect innuendo—to associate an individual with such an offence must be grounded in verifiable facts, due process and lawful findings, not in conjecture, speculation, or guilt by association.
“To suggest that lawful professional or institutional engagements can, without more, be read as evidence of terrorism financing is both mischievous and unjust. For the avoidance of doubt, my public record in office stands in direct contradiction to any insinuation of complicity in terrorism financing.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
