Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested and taken into custody a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, shortly after he perfected bail in an ongoing money-laundering case.
Malami was reportedly picked up on Monday following his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, where he had been remanded alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir. The trio were earlier arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering involving about ₦9 billion.
On January 7, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja admitted them to bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Emeka Nwite granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦500 million pending the fulfilment of bail conditions.
However, shortly after Malami’s release, DSS operatives reportedly took him into custody to investigate fresh allegations bordering on terrorism financing. The arrest followed the alleged discovery of arms and ammunition at his residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, during a search conducted by anti-graft investigators in connection with the ongoing fraud and money-laundering probe.
Sources said the EFCC subsequently handed the matter over to the DSS, as issues relating to illegal possession of firearms and terrorism financing fall outside the anti-graft agency’s statutory mandate.
Confirming the development, a security source disclosed that Malami is being investigated over alleged links to terrorism financing. “Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing,” the source said.
The source stressed that terrorism and its financing are grave offences that attract serious attention globally and cannot be treated lightly. He noted the irony that Malami, while serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, had repeatedly stated that no individual linked to terrorism or terrorism financing would be shielded by the government.
“No responsible government can afford to ignore or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing against any individual, no matter how highly placed,” the source added.
He further explained that inter-agency collaboration is a routine part of security operations, noting that it is not unusual for one agency to transfer a suspect or case to another where jurisdiction demands. “In Nigeria, the DSS is the agency statutorily empowered to investigate terrorism-related allegations. It is best to allow the Service to carry out its responsibility,” the source concluded.
