…“Malami joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Monday taken into custody by security operatives immediately after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly picked him up as he exited the facility. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clarified that it was not involved in his re-arrest.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Malami had been released after fulfilling his bail conditions. “He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” one official said. Another added, “Malami joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
Video footage obtained by our correspondent showed Malami being escorted to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the correctional centre. In the clip, he was heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”
Efforts to obtain comments from the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not returned. EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale reiterated that the commission did not re-arrest Malami.
Malami’s release followed the granting of bail on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The court set bail at N500 million each for Malami, his wife, and his son, with strict conditions.
Each defendant was required to present two sureties with verifiable landed property within Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, deposit property documents with the court, and submit affidavits of means. They were also ordered to surrender their international passports and were barred from travelling abroad without prior permission.
Malami, his wife Asabe, and his son had been remanded at Kuje following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, over 16 counts of alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
The EFCC alleged that the trio used multiple corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal the proceeds of unlawful activities. Court documents (FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025) indicate that Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.01 billion between July 2022 and June 2025, and another N600 million reportedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The EFCC also claimed the defendants disguised the origin of N500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama.
Malami had been in EFCC custody since December 8, 2025, after failing to meet earlier bail conditions. On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan, upheld his detention as lawful.
