Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, has reignited controversy with allegations that the assets so far linked to Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, are just a fraction of what was allegedly misappropriated.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving the Rule of Law and Courage Award from the Garki branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Maina insisted that authorities have barely touched the surface, arguing that far more assets can still be recovered from Malami.
According to him, the current administration deserves praise for its handling of the matter, which he said reflects accountability, transparency and adherence to the rule of law — a sharp contrast to the previous administration under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Malami allegedly stole a lot of funds. What the government has seen so far is not even one quarter,” Maina said.
“We can recover these funds from Malami. There are more than what has been seen. What is 270 billion? Yes, the government is doing the right thing. There must be accountability, transparency and the rule of law, which is what I see the government doing as against what the last.”
Maina also recounted a dramatic episode abroad, alleging that senior government officials travelled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to persuade him to return to Nigeria.
He claimed the delegation included the late President Muhammadu Buhari; Kemi Adeosun, former minister of finance; Babagana Monguno, ex-national security adviser; and Abubakar Malami himself.
“All these things happened during the last administration. I don’t believe this could happen in this administration. How could somebody come to Abu Dhabi? The late President Muhammadu Buhari was there, Kemi Adeosun was there, Babagana Monguno, former NSA, was there, and Abubakar Malami was there,” Maina said.
“They begged me, and I refused to come to Nigeria. They went back to Nigeria and made my mother insist that I come back to Nigeria because Jonathan had told them that I recovered 1.63 trillion during his time; this can be ascertained by Okonjo-Iweala and 227 properties.”
Maina said he declined their pleas, alleging that pressure was mounted on his mother to convince him to return, following claims that former President Goodluck Jonathan had informed them of his role in recovering N1.63 trillion during Jonathan’s tenure, figures he said could be verified by former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Meanwhile, Malami, who is standing trial alongside his wife and son over allegations bordering on money laundering, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
On January 7, a federal high court in Abuja granted him bail in the sum of N500 million.
