The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has arrested the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for alleged terrorism financing.
Malami was released shortly after meeting his bail conditions and was picked up from Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, where he had been remanded in custody by a judge of the Federal High Court on charges of corruption and money laundering while in office between 2015 and 2023.
The criminal charges were filed against Malami by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which last week secured an interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami and his two sons.
Malami’s re-arrest follows ongoing investigations into allegations of terrorism financing against the former minister, security sources said on Tuesday.
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed the arrest, stating, “Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing. Terrorism and terrorism financing are serious offences globally. You’ll recall that when Abubakar Malami was Attorney General, he vowed that the government of the day would not shield any person linked to terrorism or terrorism financing. No responsible government would, in the same vein, turn a blind eye to weighty allegations against any individual, no matter how highly placed.”
One of the sources explained that inter-agency cooperation is a routine part of investigations, with one security agency occasionally handing over a person under probe to another. “In Nigeria, the DSS is the sole security agency tasked with investigating such allegations. It is best to allow them to do their job,” the source added.
Malami, who had been granted bail on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, joined the DSS in their vehicle immediately after exiting the correctional centre.
The bail conditions required Malami, his wife Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami to deposit N500 million each, provide two sureties with verifiable landed property within Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, surrender international passports, and refrain from travelling abroad without prior permission.
The EFCC clarified that it did not rearrest Malami following his release; the commission spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the agency’s involvement had concluded upon the completion of bail conditions.
Security footage obtained by reporters shows Malami asking DSS operatives for identification before entering a black vehicle shortly after leaving Kuje prison.
Sources further indicated that during previous searches, arms were discovered at Malami’s Kebbi country home by EFCC operatives, and that allegations of a plot to re-arrest him from Kuje Prison had been raised by his office in recent statements.
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