Buhari’s ‘powerful’ ex-minister Malami faces probe
Abubakar Malami, the highly influential attorney-general and minister of justice in the immediate past administration, led by president Muhammadu Buhari, is reportedly to be probed for series of ‘suspicious transactions’ during his time in office.
The report by TheCable lists the transactions that necessitated the probe as, namely the $496 million paid to Global Steel Holdings Ltd (GSHL) as settlement for the termination of the Ajaokuta Steel concession. The report said the transaction took place despite Indian company waving “all claims for compensation” nine years before the payment.
Another instance for probe is how Malami handled the sale of forfeitures from politically exposed persons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Malami is also to answer for his role in the $419 million judgment debt awarded to consultants that facilitated the Paris Club refunds to the states. The beneficiary of the payment is businessperson Ned Nwoko, currently a senator.
Equally, the authorities are looking into Malami’s role in compensatory payment of $200 million to
Sunrise Power following its dispute with the government on the Mambilla power project. Malami will also answer to duplicated legal fees of $321 million paid on the repatriating ‘Abacha loot’ from Switzerland.
The investigative newspaper claimed a security agency had squealed to it about Malami’s intended probe.
