Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has defended the anti-corruption track record of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that corruption did not thrive under his administration.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday night, Malami rejected criticisms suggesting Buhari’s government failed to curb corruption, stressing that the former president took decisive steps to combat graft.
“Corruption did not thrive under President Buhari,” Malami said. “If you consider the number of convictions related to high-profile corruption cases, the government achieved thousands. That’s a clear indicator of our efforts.”
He stated that during Buhari’s time in office, over $2 billion in looted funds were recovered, and several anti-corruption reforms were implemented to plug financial leakages.
Malami highlighted major policy reforms like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN), which he said enhanced transparency and accountability in government finances.
“The TSA introduced by President Buhari brought visibility into the government’s financial operations across all sectors,” he explained.
Malami also noted that Buhari’s anti-corruption stance gained international recognition.
He cited commendations from the African Union, which named Buhari Africa’s anti-corruption champion, and from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
As tributes pour in following Buhari’s passing, Malami emphasized that history should remember him as a committed anti-corruption advocate who made structural reforms and left a legacy of integrity in public office.