Nigeria's selective anti-corruption fight: Examining forfeiture cases of Malami, Tinubu, and Gbajabiamila
via Punch Nigeria12 min read
A recent Federal High Court order for the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has sparked debate regarding Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts. The properties, valued at approximately N180.4bn, were forfeited based on "reasonable suspicion" of unlawful acquisition, not a criminal conviction. This civil forfeiture process, which does not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, is highlighted as a point of contention. The article questions the consistency of applying this legal distinction, noting that similar civil forfeiture cases involving President Bola Tinubu in 1993, related to a US federal court order for $460,000, were dismissed by his defenders as not constituting a criminal conviction. Similarly, disciplinary actions against Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, by the State Bar of Georgia, which led to the termination of his law license, are also presented as non-criminal matters by his supporters. The author argues that a double standard exists, where forfeiture or disciplinary outcomes are treated differently depending on the political affiliation of the individual involved. This selective enforcement, driven by ethnic, religious, or political biases, has been a recurring issue in Nigeria since independence, undermining the credibility of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC. The piece calls for consistent application of due process and an end to defending
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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