By Roy Ofori, African Heritage Global Affairs Editor
From a global governance perspective, Nigeria’s latest political tremors triggered by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN’s explosive statement expose deeper, systemic tensions within the country’s anti-corruption architecture. Beyond the legal arguments, Malami’s response signals what appears to be a widening pattern of targeted political enforcement, increasingly evident under the Tinubu administration.
A Familiar Pattern: Anti-Corruption as a Tool of Political Containment
Across the African continent, anti-corruption agencies often become instruments for consolidating political power rather than protecting state integrity. Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, is unfortunately displaying symptoms familiar to political observers:
• Opposition actors investigated with intensity
• Former power brokers scrutinised once out of favour
• Allies shielded through political insulation
Malami’s narrative fits this pattern. His claim of facing “baseless, illogical, and politically motivated allegations” resonates with a global trend: when political transitions occur, former officials especially those not aligned with the new power configuration become easy targets.
Tinubu Administration and the Growing Perception of an Elite Purge
To international analysts monitoring Nigeria’s political climate, the EFCC’s pursuit of Malami does not exist in isolation. It follows a growing list of actions that suggest the administration may be weaponizing institutions to neutralize figures viewed as potential obstacles or alternative power centres.
Malami, notwithstanding public perceptions of his tenure, remains deeply connected to:
• Northern political blocs
• The Buhari-era power structure
• Strategic security and legal networks
Such profiles are often flagged in emerging democracies as “politically inconvenient actors, especially when they retain influence outside the orbit of the current ruling establishment.
The global community has seen this movie repeatedly: Investigations that appear legalistic on the surface but politically selective underneath.
Asset Recovery Charges: Genuine Inquiry or Manufactured Grounds?
Malami’s detailed rebuttal highlights contradictions that global governance analysts will not overlook:
1. If the funds were already recovered in 2014, why did the same Swiss lawyer reapply to be re-engaged in 2016?
2. If no money had been lodged into Nigeria’s Federation Account before 2016, what exactly was duplicated?
3. If the Buhari administration saved between 15% and 35% in legal fees, why construct a narrative of financial misconduct?
The Broader Concern: Shrinking Civic Space Under Tinubu
Malami’s situation is part of a larger pattern raising international concern:
• Crackdowns on dissent
• Arrests of critics under cybercrime pretexts
• Increased pressure on media and civil society
• Targeted probes of opposition-aligned figures
This environment fosters the impression of a political witch-hunt ecosystem, not a reform-driven governance agenda.
Tinubu’s administration risks projecting a troubling global image, one where anti-corruption institutions appear less like instruments of accountability and more like weapons deployed selectively for political dominance.
A Governance Crossroads: What is at Stake for Nigeria?
To Africa’s international partners and global institutions watching closely, this unfolding dynamic signifies deeper challenges:
• Institutional integrity is weakening
• Rule of law appears increasingly negotiable
• Anti-corruption credibility is eroding
• Political polarization is sharpening
If major opposition figures, real or perceived are systematically subjected to investigations lacking coherence, Nigeria risks sliding into the class of nations where power is maintained not through performance, but through prosecution and intimidation.
Malami as a Case Study in Emerging Authoritarian Drift
Whether one agrees with Malami or not, his rebuttal exposes glaring inconsistencies in the EFCC’s posture.
But beyond his personal defense, it reflects a much more alarming trend:
Nigeria is entering a phase where justice appears increasingly aligned with political convenience.
Global observers will be watching closely.
For Africa’s largest democracy, the perception of institutional weaponization is not merely a domestic concern, it has profound implications for:
• foreign investment,
• international diplomatic confidence,
• human rights assessments, and
• Nigeria’s leadership role on the continent.
As Malami positions himself as a victim of political persecution, the Tinubu administration faces an urgent question from the international community:
Is this justice or is this the beginning of an orchestrated purge?
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