The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), into custody on Monday, shortly after he was released from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The arrest reportedly relates to new allegations of terrorism financing.
According to sources within the DSS, operatives picked Malami up the moment he exited the correctional facility. A video obtained by reporters shows him being escorted into a black vehicle, where he is heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”
DSS has not issued an official statement on the matter.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clarified that it did not re-arrest Malami.
“We didn’t pick him up after he was released,” EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Malami was released after meeting all his bail conditions.
Malami, his wife Asabe, and their son were granted bail on January 7, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Each defendant was required to deposit ₦500 million, provide two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, and surrender their international passports. They were prohibited from travelling abroad without prior court approval.
The trio had been remanded at Kuje following their arraignment on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts of money laundering, allegedly involving ₦8.7 billion. The EFCC claimed the defendants used multiple corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities.
Court documents reveal that Malami and his son allegedly channelled over ₦1.01 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, and an additional ₦600 million through a linked Sterling Bank account between September 2020 and February 2021. Another ₦500 million was reportedly disguised to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama.
The former AGF has previously accused EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede of bias and conflict of interest, citing his former role as secretary to the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which investigated corruption allegations against EFCC officials.
Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Bello, described Olukoyede’s continued involvement as “legally untenable, morally indefensible, and constitutionally impermissible.”
Responding, Olukoyede told Channels Television that the investigation is non-partisan and predates his tenure.
“There is nothing personal in this matter… the investigation of this man predated me in office,” he said, stressing that the EFCC pursues cases regardless of political affiliation.
Malami had initially failed to meet earlier bail conditions and was remanded at Kuje after a Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan, upheld his detention as lawful on December 18, 2025.
