By ABT NEWS EXCLUSIVE | www.abtnews.net
KEBBI STATE — In a development that has plunged the nation into a state of shock, disbelief, and monumental outrage, Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State ahead of next year’s general elections.
The announcement of Malami’s victory at the ADC primaries has sent shockwaves across the political divide, raising alarming questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral screening processes. For a man currently staggering under the weight of some of the most grievous corruption and money laundering allegations in the nation’s history, his successful clearance to contest the highest office in Kebbi State is being viewed by many as a profound mockery of justice.
The ₦212 Billion Rap Sheet
Malami’s emergence as a governorship hopeful comes mere months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) slammed him, his son Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, with a sweeping 16-count charge of money laundering and unlawful acquisition of proceeds of illegal activity.
A rigorous examination of the commercial and property laws within West African jurisdictions reveals the staggering complexity of the alleged schemes. Documents indicate that Malami is linked to an astonishing 41 properties across Kebbi, Kano, and Abuja, with a combined estimated value of ₦212.89 billion. The charges detail a labyrinthine network of corporate accounts—such as those of Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Ltd—used to systematically conceal billions of Naira to acquire luxury real estate, including multi-million-naira duplexes in Maitama and Asokoro.
Further compounding his legal woes, Malami recently faced arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) over grave allegations of terrorism financing. Despite these monumental legal battles, he swiftly defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ADC, audaciously demanding that EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede recuse himself from the investigation, citing “political persecution.”
A Mockery of the “No Hiding Place” Doctrine?
The ADC’s decision to hand its gubernatorial ticket to Malami casts a long, dark shadow over the ongoing fight against graft. Only recently, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede emphatically declared that corrupt politicians have “no hiding place.” This strong stance was dramatically underscored just days ago by the unprecedented 75-year prison sentence handed down to former Power Minister Saleh Mamman for a ₦22 billion fraud, proving that the anti-graft agency can bare its fangs.
Yet, Malami’s political resurgence presents a glaring paradox. If there is truly no hiding place for the corrupt, how does a prime suspect in a ₦212 billion money laundering scandal find sanctuary on a major party’s gubernatorial ballot? How could party screening committees, entrusted with safeguarding the ethical standards of public office, turn a blind eye to such overwhelming baggage?
What This Portends for 2027
As the 2027 general elections loom, Malami’s candidacy sets a deeply disturbing precedent. It signals a systemic failure where regulatory loopholes and the presumption of innocence are weaponized to allow tainted individuals to dominate the electoral space. When the very architects of the nation’s justice system are accused of circumventing it to build illicit empires, and are then rewarded with political platforms, the democratic process itself is held hostage.
Nigerians are now left to wonder: Is the 2027 electoral space destined to become a safe haven for politicians seeking immunity from prosecution? If candidates with such staggering allegations of financial impropriety are allowed to dictate the political future, the war against corruption may be lost before the first ballot is even cast.
For continuous updates on this developing story and more hard-hitting political analysis, keep reading ABT NEWS at www.abtnews.net
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