Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was taken into custody by operatives of the Department of State Services on Monday shortly after regaining freedom from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Malami was reportedly picked up by DSS operatives immediately after completing his release formalities, following the perfection of his bail conditions. Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that the former minister was released earlier in the day before joining the security operatives.
“He has been released after meeting his bail conditions,” a correctional service official said. “He left the facility with DSS operatives.”
A video sighted by journalists showed Malami being escorted to a black vehicle moments after exiting the correctional centre. In the footage, he was heard asking the operatives to identify themselves and present their identity cards.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission distanced itself from the development, insisting it was not responsible for Malami’s re-arrest. EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, stated, “We didn’t pick him up after he was released.”
Attempts to reach the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, for clarification were unsuccessful as calls to her phone were not returned as of the time of filing this report.
Malami’s release followed a January 7 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which granted him, his wife Asabe, and his son bail in the sum of N500 million each. The court imposed stringent conditions, including the provision of two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, submission of property documents, affidavits of means, and the surrender of international passports.
The defendants were also barred from travelling outside the country without the court’s permission.
Malami and his family members were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre after their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts bordering on alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
According to court documents, the EFCC accused the defendants of using multiple corporate entities, bank accounts and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities. The commission alleged that Malami and his son channelled over N1.01 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, while an additional N600 million allegedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the firm between September 2020 and February 2021.
The EFCC also claimed that the trio disguised the source of N500 million used to acquire a luxury duplex on Amazon Street in Maitama, Abuja.
Malami had remained in EFCC custody from December 8, 2025, after failing to meet earlier bail conditions. His continued detention was upheld on December 18 by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan.
