Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) was on Monday arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The Department of State Services apparently snatched him up as soon as he exited the institution. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission emphasized that Malami was not re-arrested.
Officials with the Nigerian Correctional Service verified that Malami was released after completing his bail conditions.
“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 obtained by our journalist shows Malami being brought to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the detention facility.
In the video, he is heard saying, “Who is the oga among you? Can you show me your ID card?”
Attempts to elicit responses from the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were fruitless since calls to her phone were not responded to.
According to EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, “We didn’t pick him up after he was released.”
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Malami bail on January 7, prompting his release. The court granted Malami, his wife, and his son bail in the amount of N500 million each, subject to tight conditions.
Each defendant was expected to provide two sureties with verified landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa; deposit property records with the court; and provide affidavits of means.
They also had to submit their foreign passports and were prohibited from traveling overseas without prior approval.
Malami, his wife Asabe, and his son were remanded in Kuje after being arraigned by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts of money laundering totaling N8.7 billion.
The EFCC said that the defendants employed many corporate companies, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal the proceeds of their activity.
According to court documents (FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025), Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal more than N1.01 billion between July 2022 and June 2025, with another N600 million passing through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.
Furthermore, the EFCC alleged the trio concealed the origin of N500 million used to acquire a luxurious duplex on Amazon Street in Maitama.
Malami had been in EFCC detention since December 8, 2025, for failing to meet previous bail conditions.
On December 18, the Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan, upheld his imprisonment as legal.
