Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday following an invitation to clarify what he described as “certain issues” under investigation. The questioning marks one of the highest-profile engagements between the anti-graft commission and a former top official of the Buhari administration.

Sources within the EFCC told SaharaReporters that Malami arrived at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja earlier in the day and was interrogated for several hours. Details of the investigation remain undisclosed, although officials indicated the session was part of a broader review of decisions made during his tenure, particularly matters flagged by auditors and oversight bodies.

Malami was later granted administrative bail after producing two senior civil servants as sureties, in line with EFCC protocols for high-ranking former public office holders. He departed the premises in the evening, with investigators expected to summon him again as the probe advances.

In a statement posted earlier in the day, Malami confirmed he had been invited by the EFCC and said he was willing to cooperate fully with investigators. His appearance comes amid renewed scrutiny of public-sector decisions made between 2015 and 2023, a period that saw several controversial judgments, contract approvals, and recoveries that critics argued lacked transparency.

Legal analysts note that while the EFCC has questioned former ministers in the past, interrogations involving an Attorney-General carry symbolic weight given the office’s role in supervising prosecutions and interpreting federal law. The development has already stirred political debate, with some describing it as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability across administrations.

The EFCC has not publicly disclosed the specific allegations under review and has maintained that all invited individuals are presumed innocent while investigations continue. Malami’s legal team has also declined comment beyond confirming his release.

Further updates are expected as the anti-graft commission progresses with the inquiry.