The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after failing to meet the bail terms earlier granted to him.
His detention has drawn fresh attention to long-standing concerns surrounding the handling of recovered funds linked to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
According to officials familiar with the development, Malami remained with EFCC operatives late into Tuesday night as he struggled to satisfy the conditions attached to his temporary release.
The commission has insisted he must first clear a series of allegations before he can be allowed to leave their facility.
Investigators are probing several issues, including the management of accounts suspected to be linked to money laundering and the movement of funds traced to international recovery operations.
One senior officer revealed that the commission is also looking into allegations connected to terrorism financing and the whereabouts of looted Nigerian funds returned from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey.
The source stated that the former minister would remain with them until he meets his bail obligations and addresses all queries arising from the probe.
According to the official, the EFCC has lined up numerous allegations for him to answer.
The officer noted that Malami is required to appear at the agency’s office every day throughout December as part of the ongoing investigation.
At the moment, investigators are examining what they described as 18 separate infractions. These include suspected money laundering, abuse of office, and transactions that the agency believes must be further clarified.
The official added that the full financial details remain uncertain, as more information continues to emerge during the review of documents and accounts.
Malami, however, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He described the allegations as “fabricated,” insisting that his record in public office does not align with the claims being circulated.
According to him, ”For the avoidance of doubt, my public record in office stands in direct contradiction to any insinuation of complicity in terrorism financing.”
He further maintained that during his time as Attorney-General, he worked with key institutions to strengthen the country’s fight against money laundering and terror-financing networks.