The Arewa Youth Progressive Alliance (AYPA) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sections of the media of selectively reporting proceedings in the ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, thereby creating what it described as a misleading public narrative against the former minister.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Adam Umar Adam, the group alleged that recent reports on the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness focused heavily on financial transactions linked to Alkausar Farms while ignoring key admissions made during cross-examination.
According to AYPA, several media organisations amplified claims regarding multi-million naira transactions associated with the company, giving the impression that fresh incriminating evidence had been established against Malami and his co-defendants.
However, the group maintained that critical aspects of the witness's testimony were largely omitted from public reports.
AYPA noted that under cross-examination, the witness, a compliance officer with Jaiz Bank, admitted that she was not the account officer responsible for the account presented in court.
The witness also reportedly confirmed that neither Malami, his wife nor his son was a signatory to the Alkausar Farms account tendered as evidence by the prosecution.
The alliance further stated that the witness testified that none of the inflows and outflows contained in the account records originated from the Federal Ministry of Justice and that no payments were made between the ministry and the account.
“These are not minor details. They are central facts that go to the heart of the public narrative being promoted around this case,” the group said, arguing that many reports highlighted deposits and transfers while overlooking admissions that could substantially affect public understanding of the evidence before the court.
AYPA also contended that the witness did not establish that the funds in question belonged to Malami, that he exercised control over the account, or that the transactions represented proceeds of unlawful activity linked to him.
The group drew attention to publicly available records indicating that Alkausar Farms was established in 2008, about seven years before Malami assumed office as Attorney-General of the Federation. It further claimed that the company was not established by the former minister.
According to the alliance, after the testimony of five prosecution witnesses, no evidence has yet been presented linking transactions in the Alkausar Farms account to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
AYPA stressed that balanced reporting of judicial proceedings requires coverage of both examination-in-chief and cross-examination, particularly where admissions made under questioning may alter the interpretation of evidence presented in court.
The group insisted that it was not seeking special treatment for Malami but was calling for adherence to the principle of fairness and the constitutional presumption of innocence.
It warned that selective reporting of court proceedings could undermine public confidence in both the media and the justice system, adding that guilt or innocence can only be determined by a competent court of law.
AYPA also urged the EFCC to exercise restraint in its public communications on ongoing trials and called on media organisations to uphold professional standards by reporting court proceedings in a balanced and comprehensive manner.
“The courtroom remains the only place where guilt or innocence can be determined. No Nigerian should be convicted by headlines, social media posts or selective storytelling before a court reaches its verdict,” the statement concluded.