A whistleblower has accused former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice and a private businessman, of diverting more than $1.03 billion belonging to the Federal Government through an allegedly cloned Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) bank account. This was revealed by Sahara Reporters.
The allegations, first reported by Sahara Reporters, are now under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Alleged $1.03bn Diversion Through Cloned NPA Account
According to documents obtained by Sahara Reporters, the funds totalling $1,034,515,050 were allegedly lodged in a cloned account bearing Account Number 0013680344, purportedly linked to the Nigerian Ports Authority and maintained with Unity Bank Plc at its NPA Marina branch in Lagos.
The whistleblower, John Kpurhe, alleges that the cloned account was used to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria over several years.
Those named in the petition include Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed, a senior official in the Asset Recovery Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice; Barrister Buni, described as a confidential secretary; and Alhassan Dantata, Chairman and CEO of Crescent House Limited.
How the Alleged Fraud Was Reported
Sahara Reporters reports that Kpurhe initially approached Malami directly while he was serving as Attorney-General to disclose information about the suspicious account and the funds it contained.
Following the briefing, Malami allegedly instructed Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed, then Head of the Asset Recovery Unit, to initiate recovery steps. Acting on this directive, Kpurhe submitted a formal information letter dated June 11, 2018, detailing the alleged fraud.
An agreement dated June 22, 2018 was subsequently executed on Kpurhe’s behalf by his lawyer, Barrister Mamma, with Malami representing the Federal Ministry of Justice, according to the petition.
Court Trips and Efforts to Secure Condemnation Certificate
As part of the alleged recovery process, officials reportedly made multiple trips to the Federal High Court, Apapa, Lagos, to obtain a condemnation certificate in respect of the cloned account.
Those said to have participated in the court appearances include Barrister Buni and Kpurhe himself, who was then part of the recovery team. The process, however, later took a controversial turn.
Lawyer Removed, Recovery Process Allegedly Halted
On July 27, 2018, Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed allegedly issued a letter terminating the participation of Kpurhe’s lawyer, Barrister Mamma, claiming the account had become subject to a court dispute.
In a petition dated December 29, 2025, filed by FritzAbbey Solicitors on behalf of Kpurhe, the lawyers alleged that the explanation was a pretext to remove legal representation from the recovery process.
According to the petition, Alhaja Ladidi later told Kpurhe that she deliberately used the letter as a tactic to exclude his lawyer, whom she allegedly considered a nuisance due to frequent visits to her office.
Fresh Letters and Alleged Reset of the Recovery Trail
The petition further alleges that on the same day—July 27, 2018—Kpurhe was instructed to write a fresh information letter, effectively discontinuing the earlier submission of June 11, 2018.
In addition, Kpurhe’s uncle, Ambassador Gilbert Nwokenye (JP, DSS retired), allegedly submitted another information letter bearing the same date, which was reportedly acknowledged by the ministry through an official stamp.
Copies of all letters, the petition states, are available for investigators.
Allegation of Full Conversion of $1.034bn
FritzAbbey Solicitors accused Malami and the other named individuals of converting the entire $1.034 billion for personal use.
The petition names Malami Abubakar (SAN), Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed, Barrister Buni, and Alhassan Dantata as those allegedly involved in the diversion of the funds.
Security Concerns Raised by Whistleblower
Beyond the financial allegations, the petition raises serious safety concerns, claiming that Kpurhe’s life—and that of staff of Legal Hub Nigeria—is at risk due to the case.
The lawyers called on the EFCC to provide security protection while investigations and potential prosecution are ongoing, stating that Kpurhe is willing to appear before the commission to give evidence.
EFCC Confirms Receipt of Petition
Sahara Reporters obtained an official EFCC receipt confirming that the petition was received on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 2:49 p.m.
The petition, numbered EFCC/PET/HOR/0072/2026, is titled “Petition with Respect to Financial Fraud Against the Federal Government of Nigeria Committed by Messrs Malami Abubakar (SAN) and Ladidi B. Muhammed.”
Malami’s Ongoing Criminal Trial
The allegations emerge amid Malami’s ongoing prosecution by the EFCC. He is currently facing a 16-count charge alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami (SAN), and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, over alleged laundering of ₦8.7 billion.
On January 7, 2026, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted the defendants bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with stringent conditions including high-value Abuja properties as sureties and the surrender of travel documents.
The court has also ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, holding that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.