A civic organization, Coalition for Justice and Equity, CJE, has urged security agencies and the international community to put a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, on their terrorism watchlist.

In a statement on Sunday, CJE warned that Malami’s actions pose serious danger to national stability.

According to CJE, Malami’s recent allegations against Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, are a “smokescreen to promote a terrorist agenda” in Nigeria.

UGAMATV reports that Malami had, in a petition dated September 10, 2025, addressed to the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services, and other security chiefs, accused the Kebbi governor of importing political thugs and foreign mercenaries, and engaging in clandestine arms trafficking.

However, CJE described the erstwhile AGF’s claims as baseless, politically motivated, and a dangerous attempt to destabilise Kebbi State and undermine Nigeria’s national security.

CJE Executive Director, Comrade Isaac Olayemi, noted that Malami’s petition represents a brazen display of political opportunism, adding that it was “mischievously fabricated with the intent to distract, destabilise, and delegitimise the progress Kebbi State has made under its current leadership”.

CJE added that Malami’s allegations are part of a desperate bid to deflect attention from his own alleged involvement in similar activities, including reports of him facilitating banditry in the state.

The civic group accused Malami of hypocrisy, pointing to his silence during his eight-year tenure as Attorney General (2015-2023) under President Muhammadu Buhari.

“During that era, bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs brutally attacked numerous towns in Kebbi and throughout Nigeria during that time. Yet, not once did Malami raise his voice in solidarity with the victims, issue letters of condolence, or used his immense power to persuade the Federal Government to take immediate action,” Olayemi said.

CJE described Malami’s sudden concern for Kebbi as “laughable and insulting,” noting that he is attempting to recast himself as a “messiah” after years of alleged negligence and corruption scandals, including the “unexplained accumulation of wealth that is visible to the blind, the controversial handling of high-profile cases, and the brazen attempt to shield cronies from accountability”.

The coalition highlighted the suspicious timing of Malami’s petition, noting it came just 48 hours after reports surfaced accusing him of facilitating banditry in Kebbi.

“This is the oldest trick in the book: when caught in the act, cry louder than your accusers. This is a classic case of the guilty pointing outward to deflect attention from his own shadowy dealings—just like a hunter who is trying to pose as prey,” Olayemi stated.

The group questioned the credibility of Malami’s intelligence, asking, “Could it be that he knows so much because he is himself part of the orchestration?”

CJE lauded Governor Idris for his proactive leadership in tackling insecurity, collaborating with security agencies, and supporting affected communities.

“Since the Governor’s assumption into office, he has demonstrated proactive leadership by working together with security agencies to tackle insecurities, support victims of attacks, and restore peace to troubled communities.”

CJE described Malami’s claim that Idris has ties to terrorists as laughable and unfounded, arguing it is “an attempt to weaken the public’s confidence in legitimate institutions” and part of a broader conspiracy by “displaced politicians – people who have lost relevance, who the people have rejected, and who now seek to fan the embers of discord to regain political relevance.”

The civic group labelled Malami’s actions as unpatriotic, noting that “security is not a pawn on the chessboard of political ambition”.

“The preservation of lives and property is the sacred duty of any responsible government. To politicize it, to exaggerate figures, to conjure phantom mercenaries, and to smear sitting leaders with unsubstantiated allegations, is not only unpatriotic but treasonable.”

Urging the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of Department of State Services and all relevant agencies to place Malami under strict watch, CJE suggested that his finances, movements, networks, and the people he associates with should be subjected to rigorous scrutiny.