Former AGF Abubakar Malami
Northern socio-political group, Arewa 100 Percent Focus, has welcomed recent court developments involving former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, describing them as a step toward justice and due process.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the group’s National President, Dr. Abubakar Fakai, called for the immediate release of Malami, citing a subsisting court order granting him bail.
Fakai urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to respect and comply fully with the directive of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
He referred specifically to the ruling delivered on December 18 by Justice Babaginda Hassan of the FCT High Court in Abuja, which granted Malami bail after considering an application brought before the court.
According to Fakai, obedience to court orders remains the backbone of democracy and the rule of law.
Beyond Malami’s case, the Arewa group used the opportunity to caution against what it described as selective justice. Fakai stressed that the fight against corruption must be carried out fairly and transparently, insisting that investigations and prosecutions should be conducted without bias, regardless of political leaning or regional background.
The case has seen several legal turns. On December 10, Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court had ordered Malami’s remand in EFCC custody for 14 days to allow for ongoing investigations. Subsequently, Malami’s legal team filed an ex parte bail application on December 15 before Justice Hassan, which was initially dismissed on December 18 on the grounds that his detention was lawful at the time.
However, Justice Hassan later granted Malami bail after an ex parte hearing, adopting the bail conditions earlier proposed by the EFCC. Malami has been in custody since December 8.
The EFCC has filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son, Abubakar Malami, and Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd. The charges border on allegations of money laundering, concealment, and unlawful acquisition of proceeds of illegal activities.
As the legal process continues, the Arewa group insists that strict adherence to court orders and equal application of the law will strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
