Supporters of Former Justice Minister Decry Continued Detention, Cite Constitutional Concerns

Supporters of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), have raised alarms over his prolonged detention, labeling it as “selective justice” and a threat to Nigeria’s constitutional order.

The concerns were voiced by the Malami Support Organisation during a gathering in Birnin Kebbi. The group’s Director of Strategy and Communication, Mallam Saidu Abubakar, stated that the arrest and extended detention of the former minister raise serious constitutional questions.

“Nigeria is a constitutional democracy governed by law, not by executive impulse, administrative convenience, or political vendetta,” Abubakar asserted. He warned that undermining due process erodes democratic foundations, adding that “no democracy can function where personal liberty and fair hearing are treated as optional.”

The group cited constitutional protections, including Section 35, which guarantees the right to liberty, and Section 36, which upholds the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair hearing. “Any deviation from these provisions is an assault on the constitutional order,” Abubakar emphasized.

Malami, who served as the nation’s chief law officer from 2015 to 2023, has faced a series of corruption allegations from anti-graft agencies since leaving office, all of which he has denied.

His supporters argue that his treatment is politically motivated. “This is not accountability,” one member commented. “This is punishment for being on the wrong side of power.”

The MSO called on civil society, the Nigerian Bar Association, human rights groups, and the international community to take note of what it describes as a “dangerous pattern of selective justice.” The group urged its members to remain law-abiding and committed to peaceful engagement while appealing to security agencies to uphold due process without discrimination.