The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, will be the longest-serving minister in the federal ministry of justice when President Muhammadu Buhari vacates office on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Malami, 56, from Kebbi state, is reputed to be a close ally of the president, hence his extended stay in the office, known to have the ‘proverbial banana peel’ in the past.
Malami’s closeness to President Buhari was cemented during their time in the defunct Congress for Progressives Change.
He was rewarded with the position after speculations that it would go to other Senior Advocates of Nigeria nominated as Federal Executive Council members.
In a recent memoir titled, ‘Traversing the Thorny Terrain of Nigeria’s Justice Sector; My Travails and Triumphs,’ Malami chronicled the challenges and successes he achieved as minister.
At his book launch in Abuja, Malami explained the controversies surrounding the recovery of the infamous “Abacha loot, the MTN saga, the Paris Club Refund, Twitter Ban” and other issues.
He said most of the criticisms levelled against him were misinformed and misguided.
He added:
“They forget that as the Honorable Attorney General of Nigeria and Minister of Justice, you are to take consistent decisions that will be in line with underlying principles of law.
“Of course, with the wider interest over and above private as well as individual interests, that is the true definition of impartiality as is needed to efficiently perform his duties’’.
Malami had attempted to contest the governorship election of his home state in Kebbi but pulled out at the last minute.