The immediate past Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has denied the allegations of corruption levelled against him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In his newly released book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’, Obasanjo alleged that corruption was at its worst under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, with Malami being a strong supporter of such practices.
“The most atrocious waste, enthronement of corruption, and discouragement of officials fighting corruption” occurred under President Buhari’s administration, with Malami playing a central role,” said Obasanjo as he went further to describe the former AGF as a “devil’s workshop.”
But Malami dismissed the allegation in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, explaining that the process of granting pardons was strictly regulated by law.
“Generally speaking, the issue of pardon is a legal matter regulated by law and prevailing applicable legislations in which a committee on prerogative of mercy, and not the Attorney General, is responsible,” he stated.
Malami further explained that his role as Attorney General was limited to presenting the committee’s report to the Council of State.
“The responsibility for actions and inactions associated with the recommendations of the committee is, therefore, that of the committee and not the Attorney General,” Malami said.