Three former senior public officials: Godwin Emefiele, immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; and Lt.-General Tukur Buratai (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to Benin Republic—have all formally denied recent insinuations linking them to terrorism financing.
Emefiele described the allegations as reckless, mischievous and fabricated, stressing that neither in office nor in private life had he engaged in any activity remotely connected to terrorism or national security breaches. He urged the public to disregard the report in its entirety and cautioned media organisations against publishing unverified claims without evidence.
Malami, in his own statement, characterised the claims as baseless, politically motivated and contrary to objective facts. He emphasised that he has never been accused, interrogated, or investigated by any security or intelligence agency within or outside Nigeria in relation to terrorism financing. He noted that even the retired officer cited as a source admitted he was not accusing him directly, but that the publication’s framing misled the public.
The former AGF highlighted reforms he spearheaded during his tenure, including the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as an independent body, and the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. These measures, he said, strengthened Nigeria’s institutional framework and contributed to the country’s removal from the FATF grey list. Malami reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and warned that he reserves the right to seek redress against publications that misrepresent his record.
Buratai, through a statement signed by former Army spokesperson Brig.-General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), dismissed the insinuations as false, unfounded and malicious. He stressed that no security institution, intelligence agency, judicial panel, or diplomatic mission has ever linked him to terrorism financing. He described the publication as a smear campaign inconsistent with his lifelong commitment to defending Nigeria against terrorism.
The statement recalled Buratai’s four decades of military service, noting that under his leadership the Nigerian Army significantly degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP, reclaimed occupied territories, and restored civil administration in affected areas. It argued that it was illogical to associate him with the very elements he spent his career confronting.
Buratai demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from the online platform and the retired officer cited in the report, warning that failure to comply would leave him with no option but to initiate appropriate legal proceedings to protect his reputation.
