Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has publicly slammed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what he calls “baseless” allegations regarding his involvement in the infamous $310 million Abacha loot recovery,which shockingly ballooned to $322.5 million with accrued interest. 

Malami's media aide, Mohammed Doka, announced that Malami is set to appear before the EFCC on November 28, 2025, to defend himself against claims of abuse of office and money laundering. 

“These allegations are ludicrous!” Malami exclaimed, insisting that accusations suggesting he duplicated a recovery process completed by Swiss lawyer Mr. Enrico Monfrini before he took office simply don’t hold water. “There was no recovery finalized prior to 2015!” he asserts, trying to paint a clear picture as he dives into the nitty-gritty of the investigation.

Malami also pointed fingers at Monfrini, who allegedly applied in December 2016 to be re-hired for the very recovery he claimed to have completed two years earlier. “It’s utterly illogical!” he declared, emphasizing the absurdity of the EFCC’s narrative. 

The drama thickens as Malami reveals that the legal terms proposed by Monfrini,a staggering $5 million upfront and a 40 percent success fee,were rightfully rejected by the Buhari administration. Instead, a Nigerian law firm was engaged on a much more favorable 5 percent success-fee arrangement, allegedly saving the country between ₦76.8 billion and ₦179.2 billion. What a twist!

But that’s not all! Malami stated he oversaw distinct recovery tranches of the Abacha loot, including:

• $322.5 million from Switzerland, allocated to Conditional Cash Transfers under World Bank transparency mechanisms;
• Approximately $321 million from Jersey for major infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Any suggestion that these recoveries are connected or that our process was flawed is blatantly misleading!” he added, showcasing his unwavering confidence. With a passionate defense of his constitutional powers, Malami insists this is all about the public interest, not personal gain.

He didn’t hold back when labeling the ongoing investigation a “political witch-hunt,” rallying his supporters with fiery promises of resilience. “Together, we will stand firm against this intimidation!” he declared, as if readying for a political battle.

Malami concluded with a triumphant assertion: “The truth shall prevail!”