Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), has yet to perfect his bail conditions amid a fresh investigation into arms and ammunition allegedly discovered at his residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Malami is facing a separate probe by the Department of State Services (DSS) following the discovery of the arms at his country home in Kebbi, The Nation reports.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly uncovered the arms and ammunition during a search of Malami’s residence.
However, because the investigation of illegal arms possession falls outside the EFCC’s statutory mandate, the anti-graft agency was said to have handed over the weapons to the DSS for further investigation.
Although the exact quantity of arms and ammunition recovered could not be immediately confirmed, sources said the discovery was significant enough to warrant a full-scale DSS probe.
Malami, who was granted bail last week alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and his wife, Asabe Bashir, remains at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja after failing to meet the bail conditions imposed by the court.
Last week, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the former minister was deliberately delaying the perfection of his bail to avoid an immediate arrest by the DSS over the arms-related investigation.
The news platform also reported on Thursday that the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) had been placed under heavy security, with more than 50 DSS operatives deployed to strategic positions around the facility from Wednesday.
Sources described the deployment as a preemptive move to ensure that Malami, who is being held at the centre, does not evade investigations into terrorism-related offences, particularly after he was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in his ₦8.7 billion money laundering case.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Malami instructed his legal team to slow down the bail process amid fears that DSS operatives were prepared to re-arrest him immediately upon his release in connection with an ongoing investigation linked to alleged terrorism financing.
“Malami has slowed down his bail processing as DSS operatives besiege Kuje Prison to arrest him for terrorism related charges upon being released on bail,” a top security source told SaharaReporters last week. “The former attorney general has told his lawyers to step down his bail processing as over 50 DSS officers lay siege to the prison compound waiting to pounce on him.”
Another source confirmed to The Nation that Malami is being separately investigated for allegedly having arms in his residence in Birnin Kebbi, adding that the inventory of the weapons recovered had been handed over to the DSS.
“It is now left to Malami to explain to the DSS how he came about the arms. That’s why he is yet to perfect his bail conditions. He is holed up in prison to avoid arrest by the DSS,” the source said.
“DSS operatives are within the precincts of Kuje Correctional Service to invite Malami. He got wind of their presence and raised the alarm. But the law must take its course.”
A separate source within the EFCC also confirmed that Malami had not fulfilled the requirements attached to his bail.
“By our records, the ex-AGF is still in custody. We saw all manners of fake clips on social media on his purported arrival and rousing reception in Kebbi State,” the source said, dismissing claims that Malami had regained his freedom.
The source further disclosed that investigations into Malami’s activities date back several years.
“The investigation into Malami’s activities during his tenure began when former EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu was in office,” the source said.
“It continued through the administration of another Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Chukkol, to the present Executive Chairman. There is nothing vindictive about his investigation since 2019. It is an inherited case, and the ex-AGF knows this.”
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede also confirmed during an interview on Channels Television that he inherited the Malami case upon assuming office.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja last week ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons. Court documents put the value of the assets at ₦213,234,120,000.
The court granted Malami, his sons, or any other interested parties a 14-day window to appear before it and provide evidence that the assets were lawfully acquired. Failure to do so may result in the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
The interim forfeiture order was issued under the Non-Conviction Asset Forfeiture provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act. The EFCC had asked the court for permission to seize the properties, which are located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi, on the grounds that they are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.