ABUJA — Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has demanded that the Federal Government produce and prosecute the alleged terrorism financiers whom former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami (SAN) is accused of shielding.
In a blistering interview on Wednesday, Dalung argued that Malami should not be standing alone in the dock if the government is truly committed to justice. “Senior Advocate Malami is arraigned for refusing to prosecute; where are the lists of financiers?” he queried.
Key Demands for Accountability
Dalung raised several pointed questions regarding the missing names in the current judicial proceedings:
- The UAE List: He reminded the public of the list of terror financiers reportedly submitted to former President Buhari by the United Arab Emirates in 2021, questioning why these individuals remain unmasked.
- Regional Intelligence: He also cited lists allegedly shared with the current administration by General Tchiani of Niger Republic, asking why no arrests have followed such high-level intelligence.
- Incongruity of Charges: Dalung further questioned the decision to arraign Malami’s son, Abdulaziz, alongside his father, asking sarcastically if the son also refused to advise the former AGF to prosecute the financiers.
Malami’s Arraignment Recap
The former Minister’s comments follow the arraignment of Malami and his son on Tuesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
- The Core Charge: The DSS specifically alleges that in November 2022, Malami “knowingly abetted terrorism financing” by ignoring case files of financiers brought to his office.
- Illegal Armory: Both father and son were also charged with the illegal possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm and dozens of live and expended cartridges found at their Birnin Kebbi residence.
- Remand Status: After pleading not guilty, both defendants were remanded in DSS custody until February 20, 2026, when their formal bail application will be heard.
National Security Implications
The trial continues to spark debate across the country. While the Presidency defends the move as a sign that no one is above the law, critics like Dalung warn that without naming and prosecuting the actual financiers, the trial risks being viewed as a “political witch-hunt” rather than a genuine counter-terrorism effort.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Justice has not issued a statement regarding the “missing list” of financiers mentioned by Dalung.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and advocacy organizations have intensified their demands for the public unmasking and prosecution of terrorism financiers following the high-profile arraignment of former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami.
Advocacy groups are echoing Solomon Dalung’s concerns, arguing that Malami’s trial for “refusing to prosecute” remains incomplete without bringing the actual sponsors to justice.
Civil Society Demands and Actions
- A Call for Transparency: Organizations like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and CISLAC have long demanded that the Federal Government release the names of sponsors behind the 400 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators arrested years ago. They argue that secret trials only fuel public distrust.
- Probing Top Officials: Groups such as the Sunrise Youth Entrepreneur Initiative have specifically called for a “transparent investigation” into fresh allegations linking other high-ranking officials to the same financial networks Malami is accused of protecting.
- Cutting the ‘Oxygen’ of Terror: The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has challenged the government’s “secrecy and mystery,” warning that until Boko Haram and ISWAP financiers are publicly prosecuted, the root causes of the nation’s bloodshed will persist.
The Government’s Response: Partial Unveiling
Under mounting pressure, the Federal Government recently released a limited list of 15 individuals and entities allegedly involved in terror financing, including:
- Named Individuals: Including Tukur Mamu, Yusuf Ghazali, and Muhammad Sani.
- Entities: Several BDCs such as Alfa Exchange BDC and Desert Exchange Ventures Ltd were flagged and their accounts frozen.
However, civil society groups maintain that this list is a “mere fraction” of the perpetrators. They are calling for the release of the broader UAE-provided list and the intelligence reports shared by the Niger Republic, asserting that the Malami trial must serve as a gateway to exposing the entire network, not an end in itself.
