Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was taken into custody by security operatives on Monday shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly picked up Malami immediately after he exited the facility. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later clarified that it was not responsible for the action.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Malami was released after fulfilling his bail conditions. “He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” an official said, adding that Malami “joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
A video obtained by our correspondent showed Malami being led 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?”
Efforts to get a response from the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not returned. Meanwhile, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale reiterated, “We didn’t pick him up after he was released.”
Malami’s release followed the granting of bail on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The court granted bail to Malami, his wife Asabe, and their son in the sum of N500 million each, with stringent conditions.
Each defendant was required to provide two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, deposit title documents with the court, submit affidavits of means, surrender their international passports, and refrain from travelling abroad without court approval.
Malami, his wife, and son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre 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 corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities. Court documents (FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025) stated that Malami and his son allegedly channelled over N1.01 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, while an additional N600 million reportedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company 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 remained 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.
