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Abubakar Malami, Power and The Price of Justice
This editorial does not seek to declare guilt. Rather, it examines legacy, responsibility, and consequence. This is especially in light of Malami’s central role in one of Nigeria’s most controversial legal sagas.
EDITORIAL
Malami, Power and the Price of Justice
Power in Nigeria has often appeared permanent—until it suddenly isn’t. Legal troubles for Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, are unfolding. They have reopened national conversations about accountability. The rule of law and the moral weight of authority are also being discussed again. For many Nigerians, the moment feels symbolic. It is not because of personal vendetta. It is because of the unresolved contradictions within the justice system itself.
The allegations against Malami, Wife and Son
Former Chief Justice boss, Malami, is facing serious allegations. These allegations involve large-scale financial impropriety. His immediate family is also involved. This includes his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), this is to the tune of N8, 713,923, 759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Nine Naira, Forty Nine Kobo).
The defendants were docked on a 16-count charge. These charges include conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities. This is contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
As with all such matters, the presumption of innocence remains fundamental. Yet, a former chief law officer of the federation is now confronting the same system. This situation has triggered intense public reflection.
This editorial does not seek to declare guilt. Rather, it examines legacy, responsibility, and consequence. This is especially in light of Malami’s central role in one of Nigeria’s most controversial legal sagas. It includes the arrest, rendition, and prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The Office That Defined Power
Abubakar Malami was the Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He held one of the most powerful offices in Nigeria’s democracy. The position combined legal authority with political proximity. This gave its holder influence over prosecutions, legal interpretations, and compliance with court judgments.
In theory, the office is meant to be the moral compass of the state. It defends the constitution. It upholds the rule of law. It also restrains executive excess. In practice, critics argue that the role has often been shaped by political loyalty rather than constitutional restraint.
It is within this tension that Malami’s legacy is now being reassessed.
Nnamdi Kanu and the Question of Rendition
One of the most contentious chapters of Malami’s tenure was Nigeria’s handling of Nnamdi Kanu. In 2021, authorities arrested Kanu abroad. They brought him back to Nigeria. The circumstances later became the subject of legal scrutiny.
Subsequent court proceedings—both domestic and international—raised serious questions about extraordinary rendition, due process, and jurisdiction. Nigerian appellate courts would later acknowledge procedural violations, including breaches related to Kanu’s arrest and transfer.
Malami was the Attorney General at the time. His ministry defended the state’s actions and continued prosecution. They framed the matter as one of national security. Critics, however, argued that legality was subordinated to expediency.
Watch a video breakdown and details of the court ruling in the case on 30/12/2025
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The Appeal Court Judgment and a Defining Moment
On 13 October 2022, Nigeria’s Court of Appeal delivered a judgment that discharged and acquitted Nnamdi Kanu. The ruling was widely reported and interpreted as a decisive legal outcome, though the federal government contested its implications.
What followed deepened national concern: Kanu remained in detention despite the appellate decision. The continued detention became a lightning rod for debates about selective obedience to court orders.
For many observers, this moment crystallized a broader fear—that the rule of law in Nigeria bends when power feels threatened.
Malami, still in office at the time, defended the government’s position. To supporters, he was protecting state authority; to critics, he was undermining judicial finality.
Irony, Timing, and Public Interpretation
Today, Malami himself faces detention and legal jeopardy. Again, this is based on allegations still subject to judicial determination. Many Nigerians cannot ignore the irony. The same justice system accused of rigidity toward some now appears swift toward others.
This has fueled theological and moral interpretations. Pastor Maxwell Nnawuihe and other faith leaders see recent developments as divine judgment. They particularly believe this after sustained prayers over disobedience to court orders.
Such interpretations belong to the realm of faith, not law. Yet they resonate deeply in a society where religion and justice often intersect in public consciousness.
The saying “what goes around comes around” does not reflect a legal principle. Instead, it reflects a moral intuition. Power exercised without restraint eventually confronts consequence.
Not Celebration, But Caution
It is important to state clearly: accountability is not revenge. The legal process must be allowed to run its course for all parties, free from mob judgment or triumphalism.
This moment should not be used to mock, dehumanize, or prejudge anyone. Instead, it should serve as a national mirror.
A former Attorney General can find himself entangled in the system he once commanded. Therefore, no officeholder should assume immunity. Power is transient. Institutions outlive individuals.
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A Leadership Lesson for Nigeria
The enduring lesson here is not about Malami alone. It is about office, obedience, and justice.
Those who occupy authority today—across all arms of government—must recognize a crucial point. Legitimacy flows from fairness, not force. It derives from consistency, not convenience. Justice delayed or denied to one group weakens justice for all.
Nigeria’s stability depends on equal application of the law, regardless of tribe, religion, political alignment, or proximity to power.
History has a way of revisiting unresolved decisions. When it does, it asks difficult questions. The answers determine legacy.
Conclusion
This editorial is not rumor, propaganda, or cyber attack. It is a reflection on power, responsibility, and consequence in Nigeria’s evolving legal landscape.
Whether one interprets current events as coincidence, karma, or divine timing, the message remains the same: justice matters. And when justice is compromised, the cost is eventually paid—by individuals and by the nation itself.