By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
Northern interest group, Arewa for Good Governance has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to comply with the court order directing the release of the detained former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The trial judge, Bello Kawu had on December 23 granted bail to Malami, who is in the custody of the EFCC over money laundering and suspicious wealth accumulation charges.
The President of the group, Yusuf Abdullahi, in a statement issued in Abuja at the weekend, urged the EFCC Chairman, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, to show professionalism and do the needful by honouring and obeying the court order granted to Malami.
Abdullahi recalled that Malami had been in EFCC’s custody based on invitation since on December 8.
According to him, since then the EFCC is yet to release him nor brief the public on his detention and outcome.
“Earlier, it approached the Federal High Court Abuja seeking two weeks order for his detention ahead of further investigation, which was granted and obeyed.
“But the same EFCC is refusing to honour and obey another court order which granted the former minister bail”, he said
It would be recalled that Justice S.C Oriji of the FCT High Court in Abuja had on December 10, ordered the remand of Malami in EFCC’s custody for a 14-day period pending investigation.
Despite this, his lawyers had filed an ex-parte bail application before another judge, Bello Kawu who granted him bail on December 23 on the grounds that Malami was lawfully detained.
The EFCC had filed 16 counts against Malami, his son, Abubakar and Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd.
The charges include money laundering, concealment and unlawful acquisition of proceeds of illegal activity. NAN
