There was a dramatic scene on Monday at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, moments after he walked out of prison.
The high-stakes arrest happened right in front of the correctional facility. A viral video captured the tense scene, showing Malami questioning the operatives and demanding to see their identity cards before being escorted into a DSS vehicle.
A security source confirmed the arrest, linking it to grave allegations already trailing the former justice minister.
“Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing,” the source said.
“Terrorism and terrorism financing are serious offences globally. You’ll recall that when Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, he vowed that the government of the day would not shield any person or persons linked to terrorism or terrorism financing.”
“No responsible government would, in the same vein, fold it’s hands or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing levelled against any individual, no matter how highly placed. In this case, Malami, SAN.
“In the course of investigations, we have what is called inter-agency cooperation. It is not uncommon for one security agency to hand over a person under investigation to another sister security agency.
“In Nigeria, the DSS is the sole security agency tasked with the responsibility of investigating such allegations. It’ll be best to allow them to do their job,”
The dramatic re-arrest comes barely weeks after a federal high court in Abuja granted Malami bail in an ongoing money laundering trial. On January 7, Justice Emeka Nwite admitted Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, to bail in the sum of N500 million each.
The court also ordered the trio to produce two sureties in like sum, with landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
Malami and his family are facing a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging money laundering to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49. The anti-graft agency claimed the defendants conspired between 2015 and 2025 to launder over N8.1 billion through bank accounts and corporate entities.
The case has already led to a court-ordered interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at N213 billion, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to the former AGF.
Tension had surrounded Malami’s release from custody after his media aide, Mohammed Doka, accused the DSS of laying siege to Kuje prison in anticipation of his exit.
Doka alleged that the plan was to re-arrest Malami immediately after his release, an assertion that appeared to play out exactly as predicted.
There have also been reports alleging that DSS operatives discovered arms at the residence of the former attorney-general, further deepening the controversy surrounding the unfolding saga.
