Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), may remain in the custody of the Department of State Services for an extended period as investigations into alleged terror financing and related matters deepen.
Security sources disclosed that the DSS is already taking steps to obtain a court order that would allow it to keep Malami in detention until the conclusion of investigations, citing the sensitive and complex nature of the case, which could span several months.
Malami was taken into DSS custody on Monday, shortly after he perfected his bail and was released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. His re-arrest occurred moments after he stepped out of the facility, where he had been held since early December following allegations filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The former AGF was initially arrested by the EFCC over claims that he conspired with his wife, Asabe, and their son to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities estimated at about ₦8.7 billion. According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences involved the use of multiple corporate entities, several bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions in Abuja and other parts of the country.
Malami, his wife, and son were arraigned on December 29, 2025, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 16 counts bordering on money laundering and conspiracy. All three pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prior to the arraignment, Malami was unable to meet earlier bail conditions, leading to his continued detention from December 8. On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court upheld his detention, ruling that it was lawful. It was not until January 7, 2026, that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court granted the trio bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with stringent conditions, including the provision of two sureties with verifiable landed property in highbrow areas of Abuja and the submission of property title documents for court verification.
Twelve days after meeting those bail conditions, Malami was leaving custody when DSS operatives took him in for fresh questioning.
Sources familiar with the investigation said Malami is being grilled over his handling of the list of alleged Nigerian terror financiers released by the United Arab Emirates in 2021. At the time, the UAE named six Nigerians in a wider list of individuals and entities accused of supporting Boko Haram and other terrorist activities, a development that sparked national controversy and raised questions about intelligence sharing and enforcement within Nigeria.
Investigators are also said to be questioning Malami over an alleged arms cache reportedly discovered at his residence in Kebbi State, alongside multiple petitions accusing him of terrorism financing.
According to security officials, terrorism and its financing are considered grave offences globally, warranting thorough and prolonged investigations. They stressed that inter-agency cooperation is standard practice in such cases and that the DSS, as the agency statutorily responsible for handling terrorism-related matters, is expected to carry out its duties without interference.
During his tenure as Attorney-General, Malami had repeatedly maintained that the government would not shield anyone linked to terrorism or its financing, regardless of status. Investigators are said to be revisiting those public assurances in light of the allegations now surrounding him.
Political observers note that Malami’s case reflects a broader trend of post-tenure scrutiny of senior officials who served under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, particularly those involved in high-profile legal decisions, asset recovery efforts, and sensitive national security matters.
Security sources insist that Malami is unlikely to regain freedom anytime soon, as the investigation is far-reaching and could take months to conclude.
