Photo: Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria and Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Attorney General of the Federation
By Mohammed Bello Doka
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest attack on former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is nothing short of a sensationalized revision of history. Labelling Malami as “the devil’s workshop” for his role in the state pardon of former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame conveniently ignores the broader legal, constitutional, and global precedents surrounding presidential clemency. If Malami is guilty of any wrongdoing, then by extension, every Attorney General in democratic history who has advised on executive clemency is also complicit in “financial shenanigans.”
Presidential Clemency: A Global Practice, Not a Crime
Obasanjo’s criticism of the pardon granted to Dariye and Nyame deliberately ignores the fact that presidential clemency is a well-established global practice. In the United States, President Donald Trump pardoned over 200 individuals, including corrupt politicians like former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. In the UK, the royal prerogative of mercy has been exercised countless times to commute sentences for individuals on humanitarian grounds. Even in South Africa, former President Jacob Zuma was recently granted medical parole despite corruption allegations.
The Nigerian Constitution empowers the President to grant clemency based on recommendations from the Council of State, a body that includes former presidents — including Obasanjo himself. Malami, as Attorney General, was simply carrying out his advisory role within the legal framework. To claim that his recommendation was an act of corruption is not only misleading but also hypocritical, considering that Obasanjo himself oversaw similar actions during his tenure.
The Real Question: Where Was Obasanjo’s Moral Compass?
Obasanjo speaks about discouragement within anti-corruption agencies, yet he fails to acknowledge that during his tenure, corruption thrived under his watch. The most infamous case remains the $16 billion power sector scandal, a ghost project that never materialized despite massive expenditure. His administration also witnessed the Halliburton bribery scandal, where government officials allegedly received millions in kickbacks.
Additionally, Obasanjo’s selective outrage ignores the fact that under Malami’s tenure, Nigeria secured historic recoveries of stolen assets, including the repatriation of the Abacha loot and the successful prosecution of several high-profile corruption cases. Malami also played a key role in advancing judicial reforms and promoting the independence of the judiciary, a stark contrast to Obasanjo’s own history of political interference.
Convenient Amnesia or Deliberate Misinformation?
The irony of Obasanjo’s attack is that he himself recommended clemency for former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, and other military officers convicted of corruption. If Obasanjo truly believed that granting clemency is equivalent to endorsing corruption, then he must first account for the controversial pardons and political maneuvers during his administration.
Rather than engaging in revisionist history, the former president should recognize that the Nigerian justice system operates within legal and constitutional frameworks. If Obasanjo feels Malami abused his office, he should provide concrete evidence instead of resorting to inflammatory language and baseless accusations.
Conclusion: Malami’s Record Speaks for Itself
While no administration is perfect, Malami’s legacy is one of legal pragmatism and judicial advancement. His tenure saw critical reforms in asset recovery, prosecution of financial crimes, and strengthening Nigeria’s legal institutions. Obasanjo’s attempt to demonize Malami is nothing more than an attempt to rewrite history to fit his narrative. But Nigerians remember the facts, and no amount of political rhetoric can erase them.
Mohammed Bello Doka is the Chairman and CEO of Abuja Network News.
