The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called for a full, transparent and uncompromised prosecution of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), describing the ongoing investigation against him as a defining test of Nigeria’s democracy, accountability and commitment to the rule of law.
CHRICED, a civil society organisation based in Abuja that focuses on human rights advocacy, civic education and governance accountability, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi.
In the statement, the organisation expressed deep concern over the allegations trailing Malami, noting that his years in office under the Muhammadu Buhari administration were marked by what it described as extraordinary influence over key institutions of justice.
CHRICED said many Nigerians perceived the former AGF as operating “like a colossus,” often shaping outcomes within government, weakening institutions and allegedly protecting allies while going after perceived opponents.
SolaceBase reports that drawing on historical and literary references, the group argued that when those entrusted with enforcing justice are accused of undermining it, the damage goes beyond individual misconduct.
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It warned that such actions corrode public institutions and deepen citizens’ mistrust in governance.
CHRICED further recalled that Malami’s tenure coincided with what it described as unprecedented turmoil within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the organisation, the public humiliation of former acting EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu, the dissolution of the commission’s board and the eventual appointment of a perceived ally as chairman raised serious concerns about deliberate institutional distortion.
It noted that, in what it called a “striking twist of fate,” one of the EFCC officials allegedly forced out during that period is now involved in investigating Malami’s activities.
The group also linked the controversy surrounding the former justice minister to the broader socio-economic hardship Nigerians endured during the Buhari years.
CHRICED said ordinary citizens suffered failing schools, deteriorating healthcare, worsening insecurity and economic policies that plunged millions into hardship, while political elites were widely accused of enriching themselves.
“While public institutions collapsed, Nigerians watched private schools, private hospitals and private businesses—allegedly funded by public resources—spring up across the country,” the statement said, arguing that this widening gap between public suffering and elite comfort symbolises Nigeria’s governance crisis.
On allegations that Malami accumulated vast unexplained wealth, reportedly running into hundreds of billions of naira, CHRICED stressed that they remain allegations until proven in court.
However, the organisation insisted that Nigerians deserve clarity, adding that anyone who once wielded the justice system must now fully submit to it.
“This is the moment for Nigeria’s institutions to refuse compromise,” it stated.
CHRICED acknowledged the role of the EFCC in bringing the allegations to public attention but said the ultimate responsibility lies with the current administration.
It questioned whether the Bola Tinubu government would allow the law to take its full course or whether political considerations would once again override justice, as seen in previous high-profile cases.
The organisation called for an independent and transparent judicial process, maintaining that if Malami is innocent, the courts should clear him, and if found guilty, justice should be served without fear or favour.
It warned against what it described as Nigeria’s long-standing pattern of recycling individuals with unresolved corruption allegations back into positions of power.
“This case is not just about one man,” CHRICED said, adding that it touches on the future of accountability in Nigeria and whether public office will continue to be treated as private property.
The group reaffirmed its solidarity with Nigerians in demanding justice, transparency and the restoration of public trust in governance.
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