Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has strongly reacted to allegations of corruption previously leveled against him by Abubakar Malami, the ex-Attorney-General of the Federation. Lamido asserted that recent public revelations have provided clarity on "who owns what," enabling Nigerians to evaluate the veracity of such claims.
Lamido recounted that Malami had, on multiple occasions, labelled him a "thief." However, the former governor contends that the public can now draw their own conclusions about the credibility of these accusations by comparing what is publicly known about both men.
During an interview with DCL Hausa, Lamido dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, emphasizing his commitment to integrity during his tenure as governor.
"When Abubakar Malami was Minister of Justice, he took me to court and accused me of being a thief. But today, it is clear that what he owns, I do not own. Do I have a hotel in Birnin Kudu or houses in Abuja?" Lamido queried, highlighting his assertion of personal financial transparency.
He advocated for public scrutiny of officeholders and underscored transparency and accountability as essential components of effective governance.
Lamido also urged the Nigerian populace to critically assess allegations circulating within the political sphere, suggesting that such claims are frequently driven by self-serving agendas.
While he did not elaborate on specific details, his comments emerge amidst heightened public discussion concerning the declaration of assets and accountability among prominent political figures.
It is noteworthy that Malami is currently under investigation by both anti- graft agencies and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initiated legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly connected to Malami.
The EFCC, through a motion filed by its legal team, including SANs Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the respondents had failed to present sufficient evidence to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order.
Among the properties listed in the application were those associated with entities such as Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, and Meethaq Hotels Ltd, cited as the 5th to 9th respondents.
Further listed were Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, and Real Edge Agro Services Ltd, identified as the 10th to 15th respondents respectively.
The application was made in accordance with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.
Malami has consistently refuted the allegations against him, characterizing the government's actions as a "witch hunt."
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