Nigeria’s immediate past Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has defended the anti-corruption legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying his administration recorded thousands of convictions and recovered billions in stolen assets.
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday night, Malami dismissed claims that corruption thrived during Buhari’s tenure, insisting that the former president maintained a firm stance against graft.
His words: “During the period of President Muhammadu Buhari, corruption was not thriving at all.
“If you talk of convictions associated with high-profile corruption cases, the government recorded convictions in thousands.”
The former justice minister said the Buhari administration recovered over $2 billion in looted funds through various anti-corruption initiatives.
He highlighted key structural reforms, including the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system, as major tools used to block financial leakages in government operations.
“He brought about the Single Treasury Account, which created a governance-wide visibility associated with funding the finances of the government,” Malami said.
He also pointed to the international recognition Buhari received during his time in office, noting that the African Union named him anti-corruption champion, while the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) commended Nigeria’s reforms.
Malami’s remarks come amid renewed public scrutiny of Buhari’s anti-graft credentials following his death, with critics questioning the effectiveness and impartiality of his anti-corruption crusade.
But the former AGF maintained that Buhari’s record stood firm both locally and globally.
