Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was taken into custody by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday, moments after regaining his freedom from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Malami, who had just fulfilled his bail conditions, was reportedly picked up by DSS operatives immediately after exiting the correctional facility. Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that his release followed the perfection of the stringent bail conditions earlier set by the court.
“He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” a correctional service official confirmed. “After his release, he joined the DSS operatives in their vehicle.”
A video obtained at the scene showed Malami being escorted to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the prison premises. In the footage, the former minister was heard questioning the identity of the operatives, asking to see their official identification cards.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was quick to distance itself from the arrest. Its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, clarified that the anti-graft agency had no involvement in Malami’s re-arrest.
“We didn’t pick him up after he was released,” Oyewale said.
Attempts to get a reaction from the DSS spokesperson, Favour Dozie, proved unsuccessful as calls to her phone were not returned as of the time of filing this report.
Malami’s release from custody followed a ruling delivered on January 7, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who granted bail to Malami, his wife Asabe, and their son. Each of the defendants was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with strict conditions attached.
The court ordered them to provide two sureties each, with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, deposit property documents with the court, submit affidavits of means, and surrender their international passports. They were also barred from travelling outside the country without court approval.
Malami and his family members were remanded at Kuje Prison following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, over 16 counts of money laundering involving approximately ₦8.7 billion.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly used multiple companies, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities. Court documents revealed that Malami and his son allegedly channelled over ₦1.01 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, while an additional ₦600 million reportedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that the trio disguised the source of ₦500 million used to acquire a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Malami had remained in EFCC custody since December 8, 2025, after initially 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.
The circumstances surrounding the DSS action remain unclear as investigations continue.
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