- Safiu Kehinde
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of politicising the revocation of bail granted to former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
ADC described the revocation as partisan politics rather than enforcement.
The party, in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that evidence showed that Malami never violated the conditions attached to his bail, insisting that the action lacked legal justification.
Abdullahi warned that revoking bail after Malami reportedly attended a political rally in Kebbi created the impression that EFCC acted to curtail his governorship ambition.
Although the party reaffirmed its support for EFCC and other anti-graft agencies, it, however, cautioned that selective investigations or weaponisation against opposition figures could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
Abdullahi said Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), understood bail obligations but might likely not have imagined that attending political gatherings could justify his bail revocation despite cooperating fully with the investigators.
The party argued that the EFCC lacks constitutional powers to suspend political rights, warning that restrictions targeting Kebbi alone suggested deliberate attempts to cripple the former minister’s political ambition.
“No agency of government has the power to suspend political rights, redraw political boundaries or determine where a citizen’s political interest may or may not be exercised,” he said.
Abdullahi urged EFCC to reset its priorities and demanded Malami’s immediate release on bail.