Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was taken into custody by security operatives on Monday shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, sparking fresh questions over his legal ordeal.
Malami was reportedly picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) moments after he exited the correctional facility. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was quick to distance itself from the development, insisting it did not re-arrest the former justice minister.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said, “We didn’t pick him up after he was released.”
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that Malami had met all bail conditions before his release.
“He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” one official said. Another added, “He joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
A video circulating online showed Malami being escorted to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the facility. In the footage, he was heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”
Efforts to obtain an official response from the DSS were unsuccessful, as calls to its Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were not returned.
WATCH HERE: https://youtube.com/shorts/b_GAI8aaPyY?si=-Vyb9K-5zzCNuwKf
Malami’s release followed a January 7 bail ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who granted bail to Malami, his wife Asabe, and their son in the sum of ₦500 million each, with strict conditions.
These included providing two sureties with verified landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, depositing property documents with the court, submitting affidavits of means, surrendering international passports, and obtaining court approval before travelling abroad.
The former AGF and his family were remanded at Kuje after their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts of money laundering involving about ₦8.7 billion. The EFCC alleged that the defendants used multiple corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities.
Court documents showed that Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder over ₦1.01 billion between July 2022 and June 2025, while another ₦600 million reportedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the trio concealed the source of ₦500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama.
Malami had remained in EFCC custody from 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 ruled that his detention was lawful.
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