Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says he has nothing personal against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation.

In an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, Olukoyede spoke about inheriting the files accusing Malami of corruption.

In December 2025, the EFCC arraigned Malami at the federal high court in Abuja over allegations bordering on money laundering.

The former justice minister was arraigned alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe, on a 16-count charge.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

BACKGROUND

Malami had alleged that his detention, investigation and “threatened prosecution” were politically motivated following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The former AGF had asked Olukoyede to step aside from his investigation, citing the alleged indictment of the EFCC boss by the Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry.

‘PUBLISH THE REPORT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE’

Asked about Malami’s comments, the EFCC chairman said persons alleging that he was indicted should release the report of the panel.

Olukoyede said his administration ensured that the alleged offences were “thoroughly” investigated.

“We carried out our investigation in the most professional way. Let me tell you about that particular former attorney-general that you are talking about. There is nothing personal in this matter,” he said.

“If Nigeria is to move forward, all of us must agree that this fight must be fought without being partisan, and that’s what I want Nigerians to understand and to agree with us.

“I want to tell Nigerians that the investigation of this man predated me in the office. I inherited the investigation file.

“What I did is to ensure that the investigation was carried out in the most professional and thorough manner. He has been under investigation for two and a half years.t

“The file was opened in the previous EFCC administration. For the past two years I have been in office, I have been painstakingly carrying out investigation to establish some of the offences.

“There is nothing personal about it. I don’t understand the issue of persecution.

“Those who claimed I was indicted by the Justice Ayo Salami panel, the onus is on them to publish the report for people to see.”