President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list was released for his second term in office at the floor of the National Assembly, involving 43 nominees from across 36 states in the country with the name of former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami confidently written.
To be recalled was the frantic effort made by a coalition of Civil Society organizations led by Say No campaign to ensure that Abubakar Malami does not become a part of the new administration due to his actions and inactions which has fueled the spread of corruption in the country, but it is rather disappointing that, President Muhammadu Buhari still found him worthy to be a member of his cabinet for the new administration.
This action by Mr. President does not support his determination to fight corruption and cause social change, as one of his nominees, Mr. Abubakar Malami used his office as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation to frustrate the anticorruption fight; Under his leadership, many Freedom of Information requests made to government agencies in other to promote accountability were ignored with impunity, fraudulent reinstatement of the Former Chairman of Pension Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina wanted on the allegations of corruption, Malabu scandal involving former oil minister Dan Etete, Eni, and Shell in a heist allegedly resulting in a loss of about $US1billion to Nigeria, the shady deal which led to the approval for the payment of a controversial amount of $17million to two lawyers for an already concluded deal on the repatriation of the Abacha loot from Swiss bank, among lots of other questionable practices.
If the anticorruption must survive in Nigeria and with a renewed vigor, the President and the national assembly must have Abubakar Malami dropped from the ministerial list and investigated for the allegations of corruption that thrived under his leadership as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation.
While Nigerians remain hopeful and increase the momentum required to win the anticorruption fight, we urge on the National Assembly and President muhammadu to do the needful.
Lynn Agwuncha
Media Officer
Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA)
