Malami Accuses EFCC of Defying Court Order, Media Trial, Others

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of openly defying a court order, illegally detaining him, and subjecting him to what his office described as a “media trial.”

In a press release issued on Wednesday, Malami alleged that the EFCC refused to comply with a bail order granted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on December 23, 2025.

According to the statement, the court admitted Malami to bail on conditions that had already been fulfilled and formally served on the anti-graft agency.

The statement claimed that EFCC officials rejected the court-backed letter, turned away the court bailiff, and insisted on keeping Malami in custody, actions his office described as “brazen” and “contemptuous” of judicial authority.

Malami’s office further alleged that the EFCC has detained him for more than 14 days without arraigning him before any court of competent jurisdiction, describing the continued detention as unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental rights.

According to the release, the EFCC is relying on an earlier High Court order that permitted Malami’s detention for a maximum of 14 days, an order that reportedly expired on Tuesday. The statement argued that, even without reference to the separate bail order, the EFCC was legally obligated to either release Malami or arraign him before a court, which it allegedly failed to do.

The former justice minister also accused the EFCC of engaging in an “orchestrated media trial,” alleging that selective information was being fed to the press in an attempt to influence public opinion and damage his reputation outside the courtroom.

“The Commission’s actions leave no doubt that it has abandoned its statutory mandate and allowed itself to be deployed as a tool of political persecution,” the statement read, warning that disobedience to court orders by law enforcement agencies poses a threat to democracy and the rule of law.

Malami, according to the statement, reiterated his willingness to submit himself to due process and have any allegations against him determined by a court of law, while rejecting what he described as “trial by detention” and “trial by media.”

He called on the judiciary to take urgent notice of the alleged contempt of court, urged relevant oversight bodies to hold the EFCC accountable, and appealed to Nigerians to speak out against what it described as a dangerous precedent.

“No agency, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” he concluded.