AGF Malami’s Aides Under Investigation Over ‘Sale’ Of Presidential Pardon | READ IN FULL

Some senior officials of the Ministry of Justice under AGF Abubakar Malami have reportedly been probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ‘sale’ of presidential pardon.

According to TheCable, Sources at the ministry of justice revealed that several aides of Abubakar Malami, the AGF, who were responsible for the processing of the list are under investigation.

Recall that president Muhammadu Buhari had granted presidential pardon to ex Governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba States who were convicted for stealing public funds while other beneficiaries are yet to be made public.

The state Council headed by Buhari, approved pardon of 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for the prerogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional facilities nationwide.

It is however alleged that some of Malami’s aides sold slots to some prisoners, adding their names on the pardon list.

“Of particular surprise is the inclusion of Atuche on the list that was submitted to the Council of State,” an official of the ministry told TheCable.

“There are several names that raised suspicion and the EFCC had to be called in to investigate what went down.”

Former banker, Francis Atuche was, in June 2021, convicted of N25.7 billion fraud and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment to run concurrently for six years.

“Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, director of the administration of criminal justice and reforms department under the justice ministry, is also being quizzed by the EFCC,” the source said.

TheCable was informed that those invited have been subjected to lie detector tests “and many of them are failing”.

Some of those quizzed were said to have attributed their failure to pass the test to “high blood pressure”.