Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Monday taken into custody by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Malami was released after fulfilling his bail conditions, but was immediately picked up by DSS operatives as he exited the facility. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later clarified that it was not responsible for the arrest.
“He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” a correctional official said. Another official added, “He joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
A video sighted by reporters showed Malami being escorted into a black vehicle moments after leaving the correctional centre. In the footage, he was heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”
Attempts to reach the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not returned.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, reiterated that the commission was not involved in Malami’s re-arrest. “We didn’t pick him up after he was released,” he said.
Malami’s release followed a ruling on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which granted him bail alongside his wife and son. The court set bail at N500 million for each defendant, with stringent conditions, including the provision of two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa, the deposit of property documents with the court, and sworn affidavits of means.
The defendants were also ordered to surrender their international passports and barred from travelling outside the country without court approval.
Malami, his wife Asabe, and their son had been remanded at the Kuje facility following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts of alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants used multiple companies, bank accounts and high-value property transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities. Court documents indicated that Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder over N1.01 billion between July 2022 and June 2025, while another N600 million allegedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the firm between September 2020 and February 2021.
The commission also alleged that the trio disguised the source of N500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
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.
