Malami’s friends donated exotic vehicles, says aide

Friends and allies of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), have given exotic automobiles of various brands to Kebbi State loyalists, according to his assistant, Umar Gwandu.

Gwandu claimed in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday that the ministers’ friends also contributed N135 million to his gubernatorial bid.

There have been reports and viral photos that the AGF allegedly donated sports utility vehicles of assorted brands to All Progressives Congress politicians in Kebbi but Gwandu said the friends of his principal gifted the vehicles to “long-term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation”.

Malami is said to be a stakeholder in the Kebbi-based non-governmental organization known as the Khadimiyya Foundation for Social Justice and Development Initiative.

Malami, who hails from Kebbi, is a two-term member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet and an APC figure. He was recently rumored to have expressed his aspiration to succeed North-West state Governor Atiku Bagudu in May 2023.

In his statement, Gwandu said, “It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has teaming supporters from home and beyond.

“This has been demonstrated not only by the calls from far and near for him to vie for Kebbi gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming election but also by donations from friends, associates and supporters of N135m.

“The recent donation of N135m has opened doors for donations and supports of many items including vehicles by well-wishers.

“The story attributing vehicle distribution to Malami was mischievous and misconstrued information. It was friends and associates of Malami who donated and distributed vehicles to long term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.

“The occasion was not for distribution of vehicles to any APC stakeholder. None of the APC stakeholders or delegates in Kebbi State was given any vehicle by Malami.

“You can contact the National Secretariat of the APC, get the lists of all the APC stakeholders and delegates in Kebbi State. Do an investigative story to reach out to them then you realised how fictitious is the claim.

“Comparing the names of APC stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the vehicle will reveal to you that there is no connection between the two and the two are not connected whatsoever.”