A Senior Counsel of Nigeria, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, has written a blistering open letter to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging that former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, presided over policies and actions that allegedly enabled the growth of narco-terrorism in Nigeria.
In the letter dated February 1, 2026, and circulated publicly, Jaja claimed that Malami’s tenure between November 2015 and May 2023 was marked by a sustained failure to prosecute alleged financiers of terrorism, a lapse he argued created an “enabling environment” for the intersection of illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.
Jaja anchored his allegations on provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2022, particularly Section 1A(2), which he said empowers the DSS to investigate and prosecute officials who allegedly failed in their statutory duties relating to terrorism financing.
The lawyer further alleged that Malami “did not act alone,” naming several senior public officials and legal practitioners as alleged accomplices in what he described as a pattern of inducement-driven investigations and terminations of criminal cases.
Those mentioned include a former Solicitor-General of the Federation, a former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, a senior official of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission. Jaja alleged that some officials were used to write investigation reports that purportedly exonerated suspects after inducements were paid, while others allegedly facilitated the withdrawal or termination of criminal prosecutions.
He also referenced former officials of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as potential witnesses who, he claimed, could corroborate aspects of his allegations.
Beyond the financial and security implications, Jaja alleged that Malami’s tenure inflicted psychological and emotional distress on “honest-hearted Nigerians” within the Federal Ministry of Justice who allegedly refused to “bend the rules.” He cited the experience of a former Director of Civil Litigation at the ministry, whom he said required counselling due to alleged workplace victimisation.
In the open letter, Jaja urged the DSS to commence an investigation and prosecute Malami under the anti-terrorism law, arguing that a Federal High Court order could be obtained to remand the former minister during investigation under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“For the foregoing reasons, Malami ought to be prosecuted by the DSS,” Jaja wrote, insisting that the security agency “does not need to wait” for any other proceedings before acting.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the DSS nor the individuals named in the letter had issued official responses to the allegations. Malami has not publicly reacted to the claims.
The allegations, which remain unproven, are likely to reignite debate over accountability, anti-corruption enforcement, and the handling of terrorism-related prosecutions during the Buhari administration. Observers say the matter now rests on whether security and law-enforcement agencies will invite the parties involved and subject the claims to formal investigation.
