A lawyer, Tonye Jaja, has filed a ₦1 trillion lawsuit against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation, and five other parties over alleged victimisation and violations of his fundamental rights following his removal as chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) governing board.
The suit, filed before the federal high court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/125/2026, lists Malami, former solicitor-general of the federation Dayo Apata, the office of the attorney-general of the federation, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services as defendants.
Jaja told the court that he was appointed chairman of the NCC governing board on May 13, 2019, for a four-year tenure. He said trouble began after he lodged a formal complaint against the commission’s director-general, which he personally submitted to Malami while the latter was serving as attorney-general and minister of justice.
According to Jaja, instead of acting on the complaint, the defendants allegedly orchestrated his removal from office without issuing any query or granting him an opportunity to defend himself. He said his dismissal was communicated in a letter dated October 15, 2020, signed by Apata.
The claimant further alleged that Malami paid for a television announcement publicising his removal, which he described as damaging to his reputation. He also accused the former attorney-general of using security agencies to intimidate him.
Jaja claimed that police officers invited him for questioning but later admitted that he had committed no offence, alleging that they told him they were instructed to harass him. He also accused the DSS of acting on Malami’s directives before releasing him after finding no wrongdoing.
Following his removal, Jaja said he wrote to the president seeking reinstatement, adding that similar appeals were made by the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, the Nigerian Bar Association, senior lawyers, and other organisations, but all efforts proved unsuccessful.
He also alleged that his ordeal was linked to his cooperation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in exposing alleged wrongdoing involving Malami and another individual.
Jaja is asking the court to declare that his removal without a fair hearing violated his constitutional rights. He is also seeking ₦1 trillion in damages, a public apology published in two national newspapers, and ₦5 million as the cost of litigation.
The court has not yet fixed a date for hearing. Meanwhile, Malami is currently facing trial alongside his wife and son over allegations related to money laundering.
