The Kebbi State Government has dismissed claims linking it to the ongoing investigation and detention of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement credited to hobnob news, the state government clarified that it neither initiated nor sponsored any petition against Malami, stressing that it has no role in his current ordeal with the anti-graft agency.
Malami was first invited by the EFCC on November 28 over issues related to the recovery of the Abacha loot during his tenure as Attorney General. A day later, he disclosed via his official X (formerly Twitter) account that his engagement with the commission was productive, describing the allegations against him as “fabricated.”
However, Malami reportedly returned to the EFCC on December 8 and has since remained in custody after failing to meet his bail conditions. His detention came shortly after he declared interest in contesting the Kebbi State governorship election in 2027, fuelling speculation in some quarters that the case might be politically motivated.
Social media reports had suggested a possible link between Malami’s EFCC case and recent exchanges between him and the Kebbi State Government over insecurity in the state. These claims, however, were firmly rejected by the government.
Speaking on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nasir Idris, Ahmed Idris, described the allegations as false and misleading.
“There is nothing like that. The Kebbi State Government has no hand in Malami’s issue; it predates the coming of this administration,” he said.
According to him, several petitions were reportedly submitted against the former minister following his declaration of interest in the 2027 governorship race, adding that the petitions did not originate from Kebbi State.
“The petitions are not even from Kebbi but from Abuja, from some of his colleagues. Anybody claiming that the Kebbi State Government is behind Malami’s case is being mischievous and unfair. The state government does not even know the full details of what is happening in his case,” Idris stated.
The Kebbi State Government reiterated its position that due process should be allowed to take its course, while distancing itself completely from the EFCC investigation involving the former minister.
