Abuja — December 6, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has publicly rejected recent allegations linking him to alleged terrorism-financing networks, describing the claims as unfounded, misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement issued Friday, Malami said that at no point, during or after his tenure — has he ever been “summoned, questioned, targeted or investigated by any security, regulatory or intelligence authority in Nigeria or abroad in relation to terrorism financing.
He criticised a recent media report that named him among prominent Nigerians allegedly linked to terror-financing suspects, arguing the article relied on “innuendo and conjecture” rather than verifiable evidence. Malami noted that even the retired military officer cited as the source admitted he was not accusing him of financing terrorism only that some suspects had vague “business or institutional” connections to third parties.
Malami also pointed out his record in office as contradictory to the allegations. He referenced legal reforms enacted during his tenure including the establishment of an independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the passage of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 which strengthened Nigeria’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) framework. He argued that these reforms laid the foundation for Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list a development he said is inconsistent with any suggestion that those who led the reforms were themselves complicit in terror-financing.
He warned that any attempt to associate individuals with terrorism financing must be based on “verifiable facts, due process and lawful findings,” and not on hearsay or guilt by association. Malami said he reserves the right to seek redress for any publication that maligns his integrity.
For now, the allegations remain unproven in court, and no security or intelligence agency has presented publicly verifiable evidence linking him to terrorist-finance activity.