Malami’s Real Offence: Relevance Outside Power, By Junaidu Jodi Mu’azu
By KEMI KASUMU
A revealing piece posted by JUNAIDU JODI MU’AZU has given not really long yet deeply catchy explanation of the real offence of former Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, saying the plight he is facing with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a ready tool of the Tinubu’s Administration “In Nigeria’s political theatre:” where • Silence buys safety • Neutrality buys peace • Ambition buys enemies. EXCERPTS:
FROM KINGMAKER TO TARGET: HOW MALAMI’S ADC-ATIKU ROMANCE TURNED HIM INTO NIGERIA’s NEW POLITICAL HEADACHE
By JUNAIDU JODI MU’AZU
The Crime of Becoming: *Abubakar Malami’s biggest mistake may not be what he did in office. *It may be what he chose to become after office.
By design or by destiny, Abubakar Malami has become more than a former Attorney-General. He is now a political problem.
When Power Leaves, Politics Begins
In Nigeria, corruption allegations are rarely just about corruption. They are about power shifts, loyalty, and fear. Abubakar Malami’s current ordeal cannot be understood in isolation from politics — especially not from his growing closeness to the ADC–Atiku opposition axis.
This is not the story of a man being investigated.
It is the story of a man being reclassified.
Malami’s Real Offence: Relevance Outside Power
For years, Malami was one of the most powerful men in Nigeria:
• Chief Law Officer of the Federation
• Defender of executive decisions
• Legal shield of the Buhari presidency
While he was useful, he was protected.
While he was silent, he was safe.
That changed the moment Malami refused political retirement.
ADC, Atiku, and the Fear of a Northern Mobiliser
The ADC–Atiku alliance has altered the political equation, and Malami sits at a dangerous intersection of:
• Legal intelligence
• Northern popularity
• Elite credibility
• Grassroots acceptability
Unlike many former officials, Malami is:
• Vocal
• Politically mobile
• Popular in the North-West
• No longer dependent on APC structures
In Nigerian power logic, this is a red flag.
A popular former insider joining an opposition coalition is not seen as dissent — it is seen as betrayal with capacity.
Why the System Reacted Late — But Hard
The most revealing detail in Malami’s case is timing.
If this were only about corruption:
• Investigations would have intensified immediately after Buhari left
• The process would have been quieter, more technical
Instead:
• Pressure increased after Malami’s ADC visibility
• Charges became layered
• DSS narratives entered the frame
• Asset forfeiture headlines became louder
This is classic Nigerian political containment:
Break the momentum before it becomes mass movement.
Why This Looks Like Dasuki — Politically
Sambo Dasuki was not just prosecuted because of arms money.
He was neutralised because he symbolised the Jonathan era and could not be allowed political oxygen.
Malami now plays a similar role:
• Symbol of Buhari’s legal legacy
• Bridge between northern elites and opposition forces
• Potential pillar in Atiku’s coalition rebuilding
Nigeria does not wait for elections to fight threats.
It pre-emptively exhausts them.
Popularity Is the Hidden Charge
What truly unsettles the system is not Malami’s past — it is his present:
• His name now commands attention
• His statements trend
• His alliances worry strategists
• His silence would have been safer than his relevance
In Nigeria:
A popular man without state control is more dangerous than a corrupt man within power.
The Message Behind the Prosecution
This is not only about Malami.
It is a message to:
• ADC members testing their strength
• APC defectors calculating risk
• Atiku’s coalition builders watching closely
The message is simple:
Opposition is allowed. Influence is not.
Conclusion: The Crime of Becoming
Abubakar Malami’s biggest mistake may not be what he did in office.
It may be what he chose to become after office.
In Nigeria’s political theatre:
• Silence buys safety
• Neutrality buys peace
• Ambition buys enemies
Malami chose relevance.
And in a country where power never forgets its former servants, relevance without permission is the most punishable offence of all.
Source: Junaidu Jodi Mu’azu Facebook Timeline
