Former Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, has rejected EFCC claims over the $322.5 million Abacha loot.
He described the allegations as “baseless, illogical and unsupported by facts” in a public statement.
On November28, the EFCC summoned Malami; however, he appeared, answered their questions, and left.
Malami Rejects EFCC Claims
The commission is investigating alleged duplication, abuse of office, and money laundering in the recovery process.
EFCC claimed that Swiss lawyer Enrico Monfrini had completed the recovery before Malami assumed office in 2015.
Disputing Completion Claims
Malami countered, explaining that authorities only consider the recovery complete once they lodge funds into the Federation Account.
By 2016, officials had not lodged the funds, which contradicted claims that the recovery had finished years earlier.
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Several lawyers, including Monfrini, submitted applications in December 2016 to handle the same recovery work.
Monfrini demanded $5 million upfront and a 20–40% success fee, but the government rejected these terms.
The government appointed a Nigerian law firm on a 5% success fee, reportedly saving billions.
Separate Tranches And Transparency
Malami clarified that his office handled Abacha loot recoveries in separate tranches to maintain accountability.
Between 2017 and 2018, authorities deployed $322.5 million from Switzerland to Conditional Cash Transfers, monitored by the World Bank.
In 2020, the government allocated $321 million from Jersey to major infrastructure projects across Nigeria.
These projects included the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Abuja–Kano Road, and the Second Niger Bridge.
Malami insisted that attempts to suggest duplication “do not reflect the facts or official records.”
He emphasised that his actions promoted transparency, served the public interest, and refuted the allegations against him.
Malami reaffirmed his commitment to accountability and the proper use of recovered public funds.
