Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Monday taken into custody by security operatives 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 correctional facility.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, clarified that it was not responsible for the fresh arrest.
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,” a senior official said. Another official added, “He joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
A video showed Malami being escorted to a black vehicle moments after leaving the correctional centre.
In the footage, the former Attorney General was heard asking, “Who is the Oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”
Efforts to obtain official comments from the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not returned.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, reiterated the commission’s position, stating, “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 admitted Malami, his wife Asabe, and their son to bail in the sum of N500 million each, with stringent conditions.
Each defendant was required to provide two sureties with verifiable landed property within Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, deposit the property documents with the court, and submit affidavits of means.
They were also ordered to surrender their international passports and prohibited from travelling outside the country without prior court approval.
The trio had been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly 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) alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder over N1.01 billion between July 2022 and June 2025, while another N600 million reportedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The commission further claimed that the defendants disguised the origin of N500 million used to acquire 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.
