A whistleblower, John Kpurhe, has accused the detained former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), along with some senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice and a private businessman, of diverting $1,034,515,050 (over $1.03 billion) belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria through a cloned bank account linked to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Among those petitioned are, Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammad, a senior officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice’s Asset Recovery Unit; Barrister Buni, a confidential secretary; and Alhassan Dantata, Chairman/CEO of Crescent House Limited.
The money was allegedly used to cheat the Federal Government of Nigeria, according to documents that SaharaReporters was able to get. The cash were allegedly placed in a cloned account with Account Number 0013680344, which is purportedly an NPA account kept with Unity Bank Plc at NPA, 26/28 Marina, Lagos.
How Whistleblower Reported Alleged Fraud
According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, Kpurhe approached Malami directly while he was the Federation’s Attorney General to reveal what he claimed to be crucial details regarding the cloned account and the enormous sums of money it held after reportedly discovering the suspicious account and its contents.
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Following this directive, Kpurhe wrote an official information letter dated June 11, 2018, detailing the alleged loot.
It was learnt by sources that the letter was submitted to Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed for due action, in line with Malami’s alleged instruction.
After this, an agreement dated June 22, 2018, was signed on Kpurhe’s behalf by his lawyer, Barrister Mamma, while the then-Attorney General of the Federation represented the Federal Ministry of Justice, according to petition.
Trips To Court And Condemnation Certificate
According toSaharaReporters, it was also discovered that, in an attempt to secure a condemnation certificate regarding the cloned account, recovery process personnel allegedly funded multiple journeys to and from the Federal High Court in Apapa, Lagos.
Kpurhe, who was a member of the recovery team at the time, and Barrister Buni, Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammad’s private secretary, were reportedly among those who travelled to court. Later on, though, things took a contentious turn.
Lawyer Removed, Recovery Process Halted
Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammad is said to have written a letter on July 27, 2018, ending Barrister Mamma, Kpurhe’s attorney’s role in the recovery process. She allegedly stated in the letter that the account in question was now the focus of a legal dispute.
Additionzally, FritzAbbey Solicitors, Kpurhe’s attorneys, claimed in their December 29, 2025, petition to the EFCC that the claim was only a ploy to keep Kpurhe’s attorney out of the proceedings.
“Our client informed us that when he asked Alhaja Ladidi why such letter was written, she told our client that she used it as a tactic to remove our client’s lawyer on record, Barr. Mamma, from the recovery process,” the petition stated.
Fresh Letter Written Same Day
Additionally, Kpurhe said that Alhaja Ladidi instructed him to draft a new information letter on July 27, 2018, so terminating the previous letter dated June 11, 2018. SaharaReporters discovered that Kpurhe complied right away.
The petition states that copies of the first and second information letters are accessible and should be given to investigators throughout the course of the investigation and prosecution.
The petition further revealed that a new information letter with the same date, July 27, 2018, was written by Kpurhe’s uncle, Ambassador Gilbert Nwokenye (JP, DSS retired). This letter was presented, and Alhaja Ladidi purportedly confirmed it by stamping a duplicate copy.
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Allegation Of Full Conversion Of $1.034bn
In their petition to the EFCC Chairman, FritzAbbey Solicitors accused Malami and the other people listed of illegally converting the entire $1.034 billion for their own purposes.
“We are Solicitors to John Kpurhe and on the strength of his brief to us, we write with respect to the way and manner the former Attorney General of the Federation, Malami Abubakar (SAN), and his cohorts fraudulently diverted the sum of One Billion, Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars ($1,034,515,050) contained in a cloned account,” the petition read.
Malami Abubakar (SAN), Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammad, Barrister Buni, and Alhassan Dantata of Crescent House Limited were identified in the petition as individuals purportedly involved in the money conversion.
Fear For Safety, Call For Protection
In addition to the financial allegations, the petition also raised serious security concerns, stating that Kpurhe’s life, as well as the lives of staff of Legal Hub Nigeria, are allegedly at risk because of the case.
EFCC Confirms Receipt Of Petition
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters was able to secure an official EFCC petition receipt attesting to the complaint’s receipt by the anti-graft organisation.
The petition was received by the commission on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 2:49 p.m., according to the receipt.
The FritzAbbey Solicitors and Advocates filed the petition, which has the number EFCC/PET/HOR/0072/2026 and is captioned “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 Trial
The EFCC has filed a 16-count indictment against Malami, his son Abdulaziz Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe. Malami is presently being held on custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
A total of ₦8.7 billion is allegedly laundered by Malami and the other defendants.
Malami and the other two defendants were granted bail of ₦500 million each, with two sureties, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The court decided that the sureties must deposit their travel documents with the court and possess landed property in upscale Abuja neighbourhoods such Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa.
In addition, Malami was directed to submit his own travel documents to the court and was barred from leaving the country without prior permission of the court.
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