The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
Malami was detained on Monday in front of Abuja’s Kuje Correctional Centre.
A video circulating online shows the former AGF entering a car that appears to belong to the DSS immediately after leaving Kuje Prison.
Before entering the van, Malami requested that the DSS personnel display their IDs.
A security source verified Malami’s detention to TheCable.
“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,”
On January 7, a federal high court in Abuja granted bail to Malami, who is under trial with his son and wife on money laundering charges totalling N500 million.
The sitting judge, Emeka Nwite, also granted bail of N500 million each to his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe.
Each defendant was asked to present two sureties in the same amount who owned land in the Federal Capital Territory’s Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa neighbourhoods.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Malami, his son, and his wife with money laundering totalling N8,713, 923, 759.49.
The anti-graft agency charged the defendants with conspiring to launder profits of illicit activities between 2015 and 2025, using bank accounts and company companies to disguise the source and control of a fund worth more than N8.1 billion.
They each pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
The court then ordered the temporary confiscation of 57 properties totalling N213 billion, which were thought to be the profits of illegal acts allegedly tied to Malami.
Malami’s office recently issued a statement saying that DSS agents had set up surveillance at the Kuje jail in order to arrest the former AGF.
Mohammed Doka, Malami’s media aide, said that the goal was to re-arrest the former AGF when he left Kuje jail.
There have been rumours that the DSS uncovered weaponry at the former AGF’s house.
