Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Attorney General of the Federation, may likely face a longer term in the custody of DSS after another arrest after he was released from detention at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, after paying full bail.
Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife and son, is facing 16 counts of money laundering and conspiracy brought by the EFCC, involving alleged concealment of N8.7bn through corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value properties. The trio was arraigned on December 29, 2025, pleaded not guilty, and were each granted bail of N500m on January 7, 2026, under strict conditions by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to sources, the DSS is investigating Malami over his handling of a 2021 list released by the United Arab Emirates naming Nigerians alleged to be financiers of Boko Haram. Investigators are examining whether Nigerian authorities acted decisively on the intelligence and revisiting Malami’s public assurances during his tenure that no individual linked to terrorism financing would be shielded.
Additionally, Malami is reportedly being questioned over an alleged arms cache found at his Kebbi residence and multiple petitions accusing him of terrorism financing. Security sources say the investigation may take months, stressing inter-agency cooperation and the DSS’s mandate to probe terrorism-related allegations, indicating that Malami may not be released anytime soon.
