A whistleblower, John Kpurhe, 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 allegedly diverting $1,034,515,050 belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria through a cloned bank account linked to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), PulseNets learnt.

Those mentioned in the petition include Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed, described as a senior official in the Asset Recovery Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice; Barrister Buni, identified as a confidential secretary; and Alhassan Dantata, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crescent House Limited.

Documents obtained by PulseNets indicate that the funds were allegedly kept in a cloned account bearing Account Number 0013680344, said to be an NPA account domiciled with Unity Bank Plc at NPA, 26/28 Marina, Lagos. The account was allegedly used to siphon funds belonging to the Federal Government.

How the Whistleblower Raised the Alarm

PulseNets learnt that after allegedly discovering the suspicious account and the funds lodged in it, Kpurhe approached Malami directly while he was still serving as Attorney General of the Federation, to disclose what he reportedly described as critical information concerning the cloned account.

According to a petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by his lawyers, FritzAbbey Solicitors & Advocates, Malami, after being briefed and allegedly satisfied with the details presented, directed the Head of the Asset Recovery Unit, Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed, to commence steps to recover the funds.

Following this directive, Kpurhe reportedly wrote a formal information letter dated June 11, 2018, outlining the alleged financial irregularities.

PulseNets learnt that the letter was submitted to Alhaja Ladidi for necessary action in line with Malami’s alleged instruction.

An agreement dated June 22, 2018, was subsequently executed, with Kpurhe’s lawyer, Barrister Mamma, signing on his behalf, while the Federal Ministry of Justice was represented by the then-Attorney General of the Federation, according to the petition.

Court Trips and Condemnation Certificate

PulseNets reported that officials involved in the recovery process allegedly sponsored several trips to and from the Federal High Court in Apapa, Lagos, in a bid to secure a condemnation certificate relating to the cloned account.

Those who reportedly travelled to court included Barrister Buni, confidential secretary to Alhaja Ladidi, and Kpurhe himself, who was said to be part of the recovery team at the time. However, developments later took a controversial turn.

Lawyer Removed, Process Allegedly Stalled

On July 27, 2018, Alhaja Ladidi allegedly issued a letter terminating the participation of Kpurhe’s lawyer, Barrister Mamma, in the recovery process. In the letter, she reportedly claimed that the account had become subject to a court dispute.

In a petition dated December 29, 2025, and submitted to the EFCC by FritzAbbey Solicitors, the lawyers alleged that the explanation was merely a pretext to remove Kpurhe’s counsel from the matter.

“Our client informed us that when he questioned Alhaja Ladidi on why such a letter was issued, she told him that it was simply a strategy to remove his lawyer, Barr. Mamma, from the recovery process,” the petition stated.

The petition further alleged that Alhaja Ladidi complained that Barrister Mamma was “frequenting her office” after signing the agreement, which she reportedly considered disturbing, adding that there was “no issue whatsoever with the account.”

According to the lawyers, Alhaja Ladidi allegedly handed Kpurhe a copy of the letter to make it clear that she no longer required the services of his lawyer.

Fresh Letter Written the Same Day

Kpurhe further alleged that on the same day, July 27, 2018, Alhaja Ladidi instructed him to write a fresh information letter, effectively nullifying the earlier letter dated June 11, 2018. PulseNets learnt that Kpurhe complied immediately.

The petition disclosed that copies of both information letters are available and will be presented to investigators during the course of investigation and prosecution.

It further stated that Kpurhe’s uncle, Ambassador Gilbert Nwokenye (JP, DSS retired), also wrote a new information letter bearing the same date, July 27, 2018. This letter was reportedly submitted and acknowledged by Alhaja Ladidi, who allegedly stamped a duplicate copy.

Alleged Conversion of the Entire $1.034bn

In the petition addressed to the Chairman of the EFCC, FritzAbbey Solicitors accused Malami and the other individuals named of allegedly converting the entire $1.034 billion for personal benefit.

“We are Solicitors to John Kpurhe, and based on his instructions, we write to report the manner in which the former Attorney General of the Federation, Malami Abubakar (SAN), and his associates 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.

Those allegedly involved in the conversion, according to the petition, include Malami Abubakar (SAN), Alhaja Ladidi B. Muhammed, Barrister Buni, and Alhassan Dantata of Crescent House Limited.

Fear for Safety, Demand for Protection

Beyond the financial allegations, the petition also raised security concerns, alleging that Kpurhe’s life and the lives of staff of Legal Hub Nigeria are at risk as a result of the case.

“At present, due to this matter, the life of our client and even staff of Legal Hub Nigeria is under serious threat,” the petition stated, while urging the EFCC to provide security protection to safeguard them throughout the investigation.

The lawyers added that Kpurhe is willing and ready to appear before the commission to give evidence during investigation and prosecution.

EFCC Acknowledges Petition

PulseNets obtained an official EFCC acknowledgment slip confirming receipt of the petition.

According to the receipt, the complaint was received by the commission on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at exactly 2:49 p.m.

The document shows the petition number as EFCC/PET/HOR/0072/2026, titled “Petition with Respect to Financial Fraud Against the Federal Government of Nigeria Committed by Messrs Malami Abubakar (SAN) and Ladidi B. Muhammed,” and submitted by FritzAbbey Solicitors & Advocates.

Malami’s Ongoing Legal Troubles

Malami, who is currently remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, is standing trial alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, over a 16-count charge instituted by the EFCC.

The defendants are accused of laundering a total sum of ₦8.7 billion.

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to Malami and the two other defendants in the sum of ₦500 million each, with two sureties.

The court ruled that the sureties must own landed property in prime Abuja districts, including Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa, and must deposit their travel documents with the court.

Justice Nwite also ordered that the property documents be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar, while the sureties are required to swear affidavits of means.

Malami was further directed to submit his own travel documents to the court and was barred from travelling outside Nigeria without prior court approval.

Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami.

Justice Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte application filed by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, citing reasonable suspicion that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

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The properties, valued in billions of naira, are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.

Although the order was made on Tuesday, the Certified True Copy (CTC) only became available on Wednesday.

In granting the application, Justice Nwite held that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and ordered their interim forfeiture to the Federal Government pending further proceedings.