Ex-Attorney General Abubakar Malami has strongly denied reports linking him to terrorism financing, calling them unfounded and politically motivated.

Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has come out blazing to deny what he calls “false and misleading” reports linking him to terrorism financing.

The strong rebuttal came in a statement issued on Friday, where Malami dismissed a recent publication as entirely unfounded. 

He stated clearly that no Nigerian or international security agency has ever accused, questioned, or investigated him for such a grave crime.

According to the former minister, the report in question twisted its own source. He pointed out that the retired military officer cited did not actually accuse him of funding terrorism. 

Instead, the report vaguely linked him through “business or institutional” contacts with other individuals—a connection Malami says is dangerously speculative.

“Terrorism financing is a grave crime,” Malami stated. “Any attempt to associate someone with it must be based on verifiable facts and lawful findings, not conjecture or guilt by association.”

He argued that his record in public office contradicts any suggestion of wrongdoing. To back this up, he highlighted key anti-graft reforms championed under his watch.

These include the establishment of an independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the enactment of major new laws: the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, both of 2022.

Malami noted that these very reforms helped Nigeria get off the global watchdog FATF’s “grey list”—a list for countries with weak financial crime controls.

He explained that engaging with a wide range of people is a normal part of public service and should never be seen as evidence of a crime.

The former AGF warned that reckless reporting on national security matters can destroy reputations and weaken public trust in institutions. He firmly rejected any insinuation tying him to terrorism financing.

Malami concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the rule of law. He also reserved the right to pursue legal action against media outlets that damage his integrity through misrepresentation