HURIWA Rebukes Former AGF Abubakar Malami Over "No Regrets" Comment Following Prison Release

Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) reacts to former AGF Abubakar Malami's "no regrets" comment, citing Onnoghen and Kanu cases.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 10:42 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Independent

A Confrontation Over Legacy and Lawfulness

Frontline civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has directly challenged the legacy of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Following his recent release from custody on bail, Malami remarked in an interview that he maintains no regrets regarding his actions during his eight-year tenure under the Muhammadu Buhari administration. HURIWA has countered this stance, describing his leadership as "brazenly lawless" and "ruthlessly unprofessional." The group argued that as the chief law officer, Malami presided over a period marked by unprecedented executive interference in the judiciary and a blatant disregard for constitutional protections.

The Onnoghen Removal and Judicial Invasions

Central to HURIWA's critique is the 2019 removal of the then-Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen. Justice Onnoghen recently revealed that his unceremonious exit was based on false allegations of a secret meeting with a political rival to the then-President. HURIWA maintains that Malami masterminded this political maneuver, which they claim set a dangerous precedent for judicial independence. The group also recalled the "despicable" October 2016 midnight raids by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the homes of Supreme Court and Federal High Court justices. According to HURIWA, these operations—allegedly approved by Malami—involved the use of questionable search warrants and physical intimidation of judicial officers.

International Law and the Nnamdi Kanu Case

The civil rights group further highlighted the 2021 rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from Kenya to Nigeria. HURIWA described the abduction and subsequent media parade of Kanu in handcuffs as a "public display of lawlessness" that violated both international human rights laws and Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. They argued that these actions, coordinated under Malami’s supervision, exacerbated civil unrest in the South East and contributed to a climate of military and police repression. The group also accused the former AGF of failing to prosecute known sponsors of terrorism, even when external jurisdictions like the UAE provided actionable evidence against Nigerian nationals.