Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has asked the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recuse himself from any investigation or prosecution involving him, alleging bias, personal vendetta and political persecution.

Malami made the demand on Monday in a press release issued by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, in which he described his detention, investigation and threatened prosecution by the anti-graft agency as a “politically motivated witch-hunt” linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He alleged that the actions of the EFCC were driven not by law enforcement considerations but by “deep-seated historical animosity” traceable to events during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation.

Malami recalled that the Federal Government had constituted the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC, noting that the current EFCC chairman served as secretary to the commission.

According to him, the Salami Report, which he said is in the public domain, contains serious findings against the EFCC chairman, particularly in Chapter 9, including recommendations for possible prosecution. He argued that the current investigation bears “all the hallmarks of retaliatory persecution motivated by personal vengeance.”

The former minister accused the commission of illegal detention, media harassment and procedural abuses, insisting that he had been clearly prejudged and could not receive a fair, objective or lawful investigation under the present EFCC leadership.

He therefore demanded the immediate recusal of the EFCC chairman and called for the matter to be transferred to another appropriate law enforcement agency in order to restore credibility, legality and public confidence.

Malami also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation, as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, to intervene by prevailing on the EFCC chairman to step aside, warning that failure to do so could result in further institutional damage and abuse of prosecutorial powers.

He further insisted on either immediate prosecution or release, demanding that charges be filed and that he be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Malami maintained that only a court of competent jurisdiction, and not what he described as politically compromised agencies, could lawfully and credibly adjudicate the matter.