Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has asserted that corruption did not thrive under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday night, Malami defended the former president’s anti-corruption legacy, insisting that his tenure was marked by significant reforms and accountability.
“During the period of President Muhammadu Buhari, corruption was not thriving at all,” Malami said firmly.
He pointed to the government’s success in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases, noting that thousands of convictions were recorded during Buhari’s time in office.
“If you talk of convictions associated with high-profile corruption cases, the government recorded convictions in thousands,” he added.
Malami also revealed that over $2 billion in looted funds were recovered, while major structural reforms were implemented to tackle financial leakages.
“He brought about the Single Treasury Account, which created a governance-wide visibility associated with funding the finances of the government,” he said, referring to Buhari’s introduction of the TSA and the Bank Verification Number system.
According to Malami, the administration received international recognition for its anti-corruption efforts. He cited acknowledgements from institutions such as the African Union—which named Buhari as Africa’s anti-corruption champion—and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Describing Buhari as one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption leaders, Malami maintained that his government laid a solid foundation for transparency and financial discipline in public service.
