AGF undermining President’s Buhari anti-corruption war, says Ojaomo

By Admin

…Malami is lukewarm – Prof. Itse Sagay

The fight against corruption have taken a new dimension as lawyer to the suspended Acting Chairman of EFCC, Oluwatosin Ojaomo has alleged that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami is undermining President’s Buhari anti-corruption war.

Ojaomo made the allegation on a national television programme, Sunday Politics on Channels TV with Seun. He accused Malami for sitting on over 600 files without treating them which has truncated the fight against corruption by the President Buhari led administration.

According to him, “the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has been undermining Mr. President war against corruption by refusing to treat many files on his table.” 

Ojaomo, who is a prosecutor with the Special Presidential Investigation Panel, SPIP for Recovery of Public Property, has accused the AGF, Malami of withholding approval for the prosecution of many cases on his table as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. He alleged that Malami has refused to file those cases in court thereby truncating President Buhari effort to fight corruption in the country.

He further stated that Malami refusal to file those cases in court is total violation of Presidential directive as recommended by the SPIP and Section 1 of the Administrative of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

His position was corroborated by the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay who accused Malami of discontinuing cases being presented by the EFCC without any rational explanation, saying the AGF is being lukewarm to the anti-corruption war by refusing to play his own part as the chief law officer in the country.

According to Sagay, “As AGF, he is supposed to coordinate platforms involving the fight, common platforms where PACAC, ICPC and EFCC operate, he has not been forthcoming at all. There has been occasions where the ministry had withheld documents and generally refused to cooperate with the other agencies and various bodies charged with the responsibility of the campaign.

“So, I am not surprised that he is sitting on files because I have seen things before. He has entered nolle prosequi for cases being prosecuted by EFCC without any rational explanation. I don’t think Malami can be regarded as a reliable partner in the fight against corruption. He is at the very best lukewarm, if not hostile to it.

Meanwhile, the head of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, EFCC has been suspended from office following corruption allegations levelled against him. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the EFCC in order to allow for unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel headed by former President, Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami.

Magu is being investigated following allegations made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami bordering on alleged sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends. Magu denies the allegations. He was arrested but granted bail after 10 days in detention.