The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned Abubakar Malami, the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, for questioning regarding an ongoing investigation into undisclosed matters. The anti-graft agency issued the compulsory invitation in a letter dated November 24, mandating the former AGF to appear at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, November 28, 2025, for an interview. This significant development marks a major move by the EFCC to scrutinize the tenure of one of the most powerful and longest-serving officials in the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The summons indicates that the Commission requires Malami to provide “certain information” deemed essential to a case currently under investigation by the agency.
The formal invitation letter, which was terse and strategically vague, deliberately avoided specifying the nature of the case or the alleged offenses under inquiry. The correspondence was signed by Sunday Atiba Ofen-Imu on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. The letter explicitly stated, “The Commission is investigating a case in which the need to obtain certain information from you becomes imperative.” This phrasing is standard practice in EFCC invitations, allowing the agency flexibility in its inquiry without preempting the official interrogation. The highly anticipated meeting is scheduled to take place at the EFCC Headquarters complex, located in the Institution and Research District, Jabi, in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The appearance of such a high-profile former cabinet member before the anti-graft body is expected to garner substantial media and public attention, highlighting the Commission’s commitment to tackling corruption at the highest levels.
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The timing of the summons occurring just months after Malami concluded his eight-year tenure as the nation’s chief law officer has drawn significant attention from political observers, legal analysts, and anti-corruption advocates. Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), held the dual portfolio of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from November 2015 to May 2023. His tenure was a period of intense legal and political activity, characterized by high-profile corruption prosecutions, aggressive asset recovery drives, and several constitutional controversies. While in office, Malami oversaw all federal legal matters and was a pivotal figure in the government’s anti-corruption crusade, yet his actions and decisions were frequently scrutinized by the opposition, civil society organizations, and sections of the media over issues of rule of law and due process. This official EFCC summons represents the first formal attempt by the anti-graft body to interrogate him since his departure from public office.
The decision to invite a figure of Malami’s prominence strongly suggests a potentially renewed and invigorated anti-corruption drive under the leadership of Chairman Ola Olukoyede. Since his appointment, Olukoyede has publicly vowed to intensify the fight against economic and financial crimes, making it clear that the agency would pursue allegations against both serving and past government officials without fear or favour. The specific case that necessitates Malami’s presence remains strictly confidential, though informed sources close to the Commission hint that the inquiry could relate to various complex financial transactions, high-value asset declarations, or policy decisions authorized during his long and influential time in office. The outcome of Friday’s interview is crucial; it is expected to illuminate the investigation’s precise focus and determine the necessary legal and procedural next steps in the matter, potentially setting a major precedent for the accountability of former high-ranking government officials.
