Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), may remain in custody for an extended period as the Department of State Services seeks a court order to prolong his detention pending investigation.
Malami was rearrested on Monday by DSS operatives moments after he perfected his bail and was released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. He had been held at the facility since early December following his initial arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
However, security sources indicate that the DSS is applying for a court order to keep Malami in custody, citing the complexity and sensitivity of ongoing investigations, which are expected to last several months.
The EFCC had earlier detained Malami over allegations that he, along with his wife, Asabe, and their son, concealed proceeds of unlawful activities estimated at ₦8.7 billion. The anti-graft agency claims the alleged offences involved the use of multiple corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions in Abuja and other parts of the country.
A security source familiar with the matter stated that Malami is also being questioned about Nigeria’s handling of a list of terrorism financiers released by the United Arab Emirates in 2021, among other issues.
“There are several issues he is being questioned on. One of them is the handling of the terrorism financiers list released by the UAE in 2021 and some terror financiers during his term as the AGF. So, this investigation will take a very long time. I am not sure he will be released anytime soon,” the source said.
Recall that in 2021, UAE authorities named six Nigerians with alleged ties to Boko Haram as terrorist financiers. The UAE Cabinet’s Resolution No. 83 of 2021 listed 38 individuals and 15 entities for supporting Boko Haram and other terrorist causes. The named Nigerians included Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.
