The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been asked to disqualify the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council from standing as surety for former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. This request was made by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), a group of Nigerian legislative lawyers.
Malami, who is being investigated for alleged corruption, was granted interim bail by a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday. The bail conditions included the surrender of his international passport and the execution of bail bonds by two sureties, one of whom is the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council.
However, ALDRAP has argued that the Director-General is not fit to stand as surety due to the Legal Aid Council’s poor performance in the anti-corruption index of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC). In a letter to the EFCC chairman, ALDRAP cited the Council’s zero percent score in the 2024 anti-corruption index, which indicates a failure to comply with ICPC ethics and integrity standards.
According to ALDRAP, this failure to meet the criteria for sureties as set out under Section 167(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, makes the Director-General an unsuitable candidate to stand as surety for Malami. The association has requested the EFCC to apply the relevant provisions of the Act and disqualify the Director-General from standing as surety.
The development comes as Malami’s investigation and potential prosecution for corruption continue. The EFCC’s decision on the matter will be crucial in determining the next steps in the case. The request by ALDRAP highlights the importance of ensuring that individuals and institutions comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations, particularly in cases involving high-profile figures and public officials. The outcome of this request will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the ongoing investigation and the broader fight against corruption in Nigeria.