…Multi-billion-naira assets uncovered
….2 sons linked to 16 top companies
…Allegations baseless, illogical and devoid of substance -Malami
.Says they collapsed under factual scrutiny
By Anthony Ochela and Uche Onyeali, Abuja
Nigeria’s immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is having a date with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations of corruption since his invitation for questioning by the anti-corruption agency last Friday.
Malami’s invitation according to sources is not unconnected with array of petitions bordering on alleged
land financial infractions committed by the Ex-Minister while in office.
In one breathe sources say Malami’s invitation and ongoing questioning may have stemed from a petition in September to President Bola Tinubu by the Nigeria Civil Society Center For Development and Anti-Corruption Initiative, NCSCDAACI, demanding a probe of the senior lawyer turned politician.
The petition signed by NCSCDAACI Director, Adeshina Ogunwale, and sighted by AljazirahNigeria was also copied to President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The NCSCDAACI in its petition accused Malami of massive corruption scandals orchestrated while still serving in the last administration.
The petition indicated that an investigation carried out by the centre exposed the way the Ex-Minister allegedly used his authority to conspire with others to defraud the Nigerian state of billions of naira.
The petition read thus: “These cases are deeply concerning. and as a nation fighting to rid itself of corruption, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to such damaging revelations.
“We, the NCSCDACI, write to formally bring to your attention the false asset declaration made by former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, during his tenure.
“Our findings and documentary evidence reveal that Malami failed to include significant assets in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kebbi, Dubai and assets owned by his children, particularly his sons, Abdullaziz Malami and Kabir Malami, in his asset declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB”.
The group accused Malami of false or fake declaration of assets alleging that his children’s shoking acceleration to unexpected or explainable wealth requires judicial intervention.
“Furthermore, Abdullaziz and Kabir has no known or reasonable source of livelihood to justify the sudden acquisition of properties and wealth after Malami assumed office.
They argued that it is important to also scrutinize the sudden and flamboyant rise of Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami and Kabir Malami.
Noting that “as the Group Managing Director of RAYHAAN GROUP and Deputy Managing Director, Abdulaziz and Kabir have accumulated substantial wealth at a remarkably young age, raising questions about the source of their fortune and the role their father might have played in helping them amass such wealth, ” the group urged investigation of corruption.
“The Rayhaan Group RC-1813901, a family-owned conglomerate with interests in hospitality, communications, agriculture, education, security, real estate, and rice milling has become one of the largest private companies in Nigeria, boasting over 2,000 employees.
“One of Rayhaan Group’s flagship subsidiaries, AZBIR HOTELS, located in Birmin Kebbi, stands as a testament to Abdulaziz and Kabir’s extravagant lifestyle.
“The hotel, along with the RAYHAAN ALERT SECURITY, RAYHAAN HOTELS, RAYHAAN RADIO, KEBBI RAYHAAN EXPORT OFFTAKERS COMPANY LTD, MOUNTAIN VIEW GOLD & JEWELLERY, RAYHAAN BUSTAN & ALLIED FACTORY, APEX CAIBER LTD, MEETHAQ HOTELS, AZBIR PROPERTIES NIGERIA LTD, AZBIR ARENA, AZBIR GALLERY, AZBIR SUPERMARKET, and AZBIR CLOTHINGS, has become a symbol of wealth and power in the region.
“The rapid development of this hotel, alongside the acquisition of ZEENOR HOTEL and RAYHAAN HOTELS in Kano, raises legitimate concerns about how Abdulaziz and Kabir were able to fund these ventures at such young age.
“Beyond hospitality, Rayhaan Group has expanded into the education sector, owning RAYHAAN MODEL ACADEMY and RAYHAN UNIVERSITY, one of the newly licensed private universities in Nigeria, with 15 approved academic programmes.
“This unprecedented expansion into education and agriculture, with RAYHAAN RICE MILLING PLANT in Kebbi State being one of the largest in the country, further demonstrates that Abdulaziz and Kabir has access to vast financial resources.
“This raises serious concerns about the origin of these assets and suggests that they were improperly obtained or concealed through their father’s position.
“We demand an immediate investigation into this false declaration and the undeclared assets.
“The law requires that all assets, including those belonging to children of public office holders, must be fully declared.
“We urge the CCB and other relevant authorities to act swiftly, ensuring transparency, accountability and adherence to Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws.
“Malami must be held accountable for this breach of public trust, the group said.
Further allegations by the group include: The opaque way Malami handled the OPL 245 deal, more commonly known as the Malabu oil scandal.
The group posits that the oil deal is one of Nigeria’s most infamous corruption cases, and Mr. Malami’s involvement exacerbated the situation.
“This oil block, one of the most lucrative in Africa, was sold under shady circumstances in 2011, costing Nigeria over $1billion in lost revenue.
The NCSCDAACI urged the federal government, particularly President Bola Tinubu to commence an immediate and comprehensive probe, recovery and refund of stolen funds as well as addressing the outstanding issues of the infamous Process and Industrial Development, P&ID, case resulted in a $9.6 billion judgment against Nigeria in 2019.
Responding, Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, in Abuja, yesterday, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.
He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.
Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
Following the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s invitation detained, released and his passport seized as well as asked to report to the EFCC officials daily, thereby giving credence believes that the allegations against him are damning.
Besides, according to a source, fact‑sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.
In this vein, the source said “We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.
“We did not say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators”.
The Commission cited the huge volume of documents he must go through and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.
The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.
