Lawyer Accuses Former Attorney-General Malami of Enabling Narco-Terrorism, Urges DSS Probe

A senior Nigerian lawyer, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, has accused former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of failing to prosecute alleged financiers of terrorism during his tenure, a lapse he claims contributed to the emergence and growth of narco-terrorism in Nigeria.
In an open letter addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr. Jaja called for a full investigation and possible prosecution of the former justice minister under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2022. He described his claims as a public-interest disclosure, stating that he made them under oath and that they are “true, correct and verifiable.”
Dr. Jaja, who identified himself as a legal practitioner called to the Bar in 2004 and currently on leave abroad, alleged that Malami did not act alone but worked with several senior officials across key justice and anti-corruption institutions. Among those mentioned were former Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN); an official of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC); and the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, among others.
According to the letter, these individuals allegedly played roles ranging from terminating criminal cases to preparing investigation reports that exonerated suspects after inducements had been paid. Dr. Jaja further alleged that funds linked to illicit activities were moved to influence decisions within the justice system, claims he said could be corroborated by officials of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other former government functionaries.
He also claimed that several former public officials, including ex-aides and directors within the Ministry of Justice, could serve as witnesses, alleging that some suffered psychological and professional harm for refusing to comply with improper directives during Malami’s tenure.
Dr. Jaja argued that narco-terrorism—defined as the intersection between drug trafficking and terrorism financing—was allowed to thrive because of what he described as a deliberate failure to prosecute both terror financiers and terrorists. He maintained that this failure had severe economic, security and human consequences for the country.
The lawyer urged the DSS to invoke its statutory powers to investigate the former attorney-general and, if necessary, seek a remand order from the Federal High Court pending the conclusion of investigations.
As of the time of filing this report, Malami and the other individuals named had not publicly responded to the allegations. The DSS has also not issued an official statement on the open letter.
The allegations remain claims by a private individual and have not been tested in court.