- Former AGF Abubakar Malami has refuted claims by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Buhari government was the most corrupt in Nigeria's history
- Malami clarified the Attorney General's role in the process of granting pardon and asserted that presidential pardons follow legal proceedings and are not political
- Obasanjo had criticised Buhari's administration over the presidential pardon granted to former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements
The immediate past attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has stated that decisions regarding presidential pardons were legal matters handled by a designated committee, with the Attorney General’s role limited to presenting the committee’s report.
Malami made this clarification in an interview with The Punch on Friday, March 14.
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The former AGF spoke while reacting to the allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future.
In the book, one of two newly released to mark Obasanjo’s 88th birthday, the former president alleged that corruption was at its worst under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with Malami playing a key role in enabling corrupt practices.
According to Olusegun Obasanjo, Malami had strongly advised Buhari to grant the pardons and the process was tainted by corruption.
Recall that during Buhari’s tenure, two former governors, Joshua Dariye of Plateau state and Jolly Nyame of Taraba state, who had been convicted of fraud, were granted presidential pardons.
The Council of State, presided over by Buhari in April 2022, granted them pardons on the grounds of age and ill health.
But Obasanjo alleged that it was later discovered that neither Dariye nor Nyame had life-threatening illnesses, as initially claimed.
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Malami responds to Obasanjo
Reacting, Malami strongly refuted the claims, insisting that the process of granting pardons is strictly regulated by law.
“Generally speaking, the issue of pardon is a legal matter governed by law and existing legislation, in which a committee on the prerogative of mercy— not the Attorney General — is responsible,” he stated.
Speaking further, Malami explained that his role as attorney general was limited to presenting the committee’s report to the Council of State.
“The responsibility for actions and inactions associated with the committee’s recommendations lies with the committee, not the Attorney General.
“Our system and polity are characterised by wild and unsubstantiated allegations of corruption relating to official acts of governance, both locally and internationally. We have witnessed unguarded allegations even against our well-respected presidents during international media engagements. The Hard Talk interview of President Obasanjo is a relevant case in point,” Malami said.
Read more about Buhari's tenure as president here:
- “Buhari’s infrastructural drive better than Obasanjo, Jonathan, Yar’Adua combined,” Bashir Ahmad
- Buhari's 8yr tenure: ex-president under probe over alleged monumental corruption, insecurity, others
FG reacts as Obasanjo calls Buhari’s govt corrupt
Earlier, President Tinubu's government reacted as Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was described as the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Obasanjo made this declaration as he criticised the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and the N21 billion vice president's residence by Tinubu.
Reacting, the federal government, through the minister of works, Dave Umahi, and a presidential aide, described Obasanjo’s claims as baseless.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.
