The office of the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, on Thursday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revoked the bail earlier granted to Malami solely because he attended a political event in Kebbi State.
In a statement signed by Mohammed Bello Doka, Special Assistant on Media Affairs to Malami, the office dismissed as incorrect the reports suggesting the former AGF failed to meet his bail terms, describing such claims as misleading and contrary to the facts.
The statement affirmed that Malami had fully complied with the bail requirements earlier set by the EFCC over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office — allegations he has consistently denied.
It added that the EFCC subsequently introduced new restrictions, including a ban on media interviews and a prohibition on participating in political activities in Kebbi State.
“Abubakar Malami, SAN did not violate or fail to meet any bail condition. It was the EFCC that revoked his bail after he attended a political gathering in Kebbi State, not because of any breach of the law or his bail terms,” the aide stated.
Describing the political restriction as unconstitutional, the statement argued that preventing Malami from engaging in politics in his home state amounted to an infringement on his freedom of movement, association, and political participation.
“Prohibiting him from engaging in political activities in Kebbi, his home state, violates his fundamental rights. Such a condition has no basis in a democratic system and raises questions about its true intent,” it added.
According to the statement, Malami travelled to Kebbi from Friday to Sunday, where he was received by party members as a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). After addressing a peaceful gathering, he returned to Abuja on Monday in response to an EFCC invitation, only to be informed that his bail had been ‘revoked.’
It questioned why attendance at a political event would trigger such action, stressing: “What does an allegation of money laundering have to do with attending a political meeting in Kebbi State? Nothing at all.”
The aide said the state-specific restriction pointed to a political motive, arguing that participation in political activities cannot obstruct investigation or prosecution. He added that Malami was prepared to meet any new bail conditions but was not given the opportunity before the bail was reportedly withdrawn.
“Any claims that he failed to meet the bail requirements are false, misleading, and contrary to the facts,” Malami’s office noted.
The statement reiterated that while the EFCC has the legal authority to investigate and prosecute, it does not have the power to impose political restrictions or to infringe on constitutional rights.
Malami remains in EFCC custody at the time of filing this report.