In an explosive open letter, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, a Senior Counsel of Nigeria, has accused former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami of introducing narco-terrorism into the country, alleging that he acted with a group of accomplices, including prominent legal and governmental figures.
Dr. Jaja wrote, “Let me begin by stating that Sections 1A (2) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2022 provides the legal basis for DSS to prosecute Malami for his failure to prosecute financiers of terrorism during his tenure as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
He names specific individuals purportedly involved in Malami’s alleged activities, including Dayo Apata, SAN, and former Solicitor-General of the Federation, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN. He identifies Sakaba Ishaku, Ag. Head of the Investigation Division of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and John O. Asein, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, as further accomplices.
Dr. Jaja claims that these individuals were involved in various corrupt practices that facilitated the rise of narco-terrorism. He states, “Mr. Sakaba Ishaku… is another accomplice of Malami that should be questioned. His task was simply to write investigation reports that exonerates culprits after they have given inducements to Malami.”
He also notes the emotional impact of Malami’s actions on honest officials within the Federal Ministry of Justice, explaining that those who resisted bending the rules were often scapegoated. “Apart from the financial drain that Malami’s actions caused upon the Nigerian economy, there is also the psychological trauma and emotional distress that it inflicted upon the few Honest-Hearted Nigerians,” he asserts.
Defining narco-terrorism, Dr. Jaja elaborates that it combines illicit drug activities and terrorism, highlighting Malami’s alleged role: “During his tenure, Malami by his refusal to prosecute both financiers of terrorism and terrorists themselves created an enabling environment for NARCO-TERRORISM to be introduced and thrive within Nigeria.”
Concluding his letter, he calls for Malami’s prosecution under the relevant law, stating, “For the foregoing reasons, Malami ought to be prosecuted by the Department of State Security Services (DSS)… The DSS does not need to wait for him to be released from the Kuje prison.”
