Malami Under Fire: Rights Group Urges CCB Probe Over Onnoghen Removal And Alleged Abuse Of Office

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), may be facing new legal challenges as a group of Nigerian legislative lawyers has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate and prosecute him over the controversial removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), in a petition dated February 3, 2026, accused Malami of abusing his office during his tenure under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Justice Onnoghen was removed ahead of the 2019 general elections following proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged asset declaration violations. Although he was initially convicted, the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in November 2024.

In the petition, signed by their lawyer, S.O. Abang, and addressed to the CCB Chairman, ALDRAP alleged that Malami acted “unlawfully and maliciously” in orchestrating Onnoghen’s removal. The group also accused him of pursuing the malicious prosecution of Justice Nnamdi Dimigba of the Federal High Court.

“Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, abused the powers conferred on him by his office as the former AGF and Minister of Justice,” the petition stated.

ALDRAP further claimed that Malami misused his constitutional powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution—which grants the AGF discretion to initiate, take over, or discontinue criminal proceedings—not for public interest, but for personal political and financial gain.

The petition alleged that Malami directed the CCB to discontinue some prosecutions while fast-tracking others for political reasons. “Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, personally ordered the Code of Conduct Bureau to halt prosecutions… even after the Bureau had established a prima facie case,” the petition added.

The group also highlighted alleged gifts received by Malami, including over 200 vehicles, both personally and through his NGO, Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiatives, as evidence of violations of Sections 5, 10, and 11 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1991.

Further allegations included Malami’s approval of Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gotomo—chairman of the NGO—as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in 2019, which ALDRAP claimed violated constitutional provisions.

The petition also referenced Malami’s 2022 admission of receiving funds and vehicles from associates to support his Kebbi State governorship ambition, describing the act as inconsistent with Code of Conduct law.

“The foregoing acts of Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, constitute abuse of office and misconduct, as he violated the Constitution of Nigeria and used the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal to serve his personal, financial, and political objectives,” the petition stated.

ALDRAP called on the CCB to begin investigations and prosecutions immediately. “It is for these reasons that Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, ought to be investigated and prosecuted by your office,” the petitioners said.

Malami is also currently facing separate charges filed by the Nigerian government related to allegations of money laundering and terrorism financing.