Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), may spend a longer time in the custody of the Department of State Services, as investigators intensify probes into allegations against him.
Multiple security sources who spoke with Punch disclosed that the DSS is already working to obtain a court order to keep the former minister in custody pending the conclusion of investigations, which they said could take months due to their “sensitive and complex” nature.
Naijaonpoint reports that Malami’s latest legal ordeal began on Monday when DSS operatives took him into custody moments after he perfected his bail and was released from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The former AGF had just stepped out of the facility, where he had been detained since early December over allegations brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, when he was rearrested by the secret police.
Sources said the DSS is seeking judicial approval to keep him detained until investigations are completed.
Malami was earlier arrested by the EFCC over allegations that he conspired with his wife, Asabe, and their son to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities valued at about ₦8.7 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the offences involved the use of multiple corporate entities, bank accounts and high-value real estate transactions in Abuja and other parts of the country.
The trio was arraigned on December 29, 2025, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on 16 counts bordering on money laundering and conspiracy, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Before the arraignment, Malami was unable to meet bail conditions earlier granted him, leading to his continued detention from December 8. On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan upheld his detention as lawful.
However, on January 7, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court granted Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of ₦500m each, with stringent conditions, including two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Twelve days later, Malami perfected his bail, only to be taken into DSS custody shortly after his release.
According to Punch, Malami’s detention may not end soon, as investigators are grilling him over several issues, including his handling of Nigeria’s terror financing dossiers during his tenure.
A source familiar with the investigation said, “The investigation is likely going to take a long time. This is why we are working to get a court order to detain him further.
“One of the issues he is being questioned on is the handling of the terrorism financiers list released by the UAE in 2021 and some terror financiers during his term as AGF. So, this investigation will take a very long time. I am not sure he will be released anytime soon.”
In 2021, the United Arab Emirates named six Nigerians as alleged financiers of Boko Haram under Cabinet Resolution No. 83 of 2021, which designated 38 individuals and 15 entities as terror-linked.
The individuals listed by the UAE authorities included Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.
The disclosure had sparked widespread controversy in Nigeria, raising questions about how suspected terror financiers operated locally and whether authorities acted decisively on foreign intelligence.
Ironically, Malami, while serving as Attorney-General, repeatedly vowed that the government would not shield any individual linked to terrorism or its financing, regardless of status.
Investigators are said to be revisiting those public declarations in light of the current allegations.
Another security source also revealed that Malami is being questioned over an arms cache allegedly discovered at his Kebbi residence, as well as multiple petitions bordering on terrorism and terrorism financing.
The source said, “He will also be probed on the arms cache found in his Kebbi home. Beyond this, there are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing. Terrorism and terrorism financing are serious offences globally. You’ll recall that when Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, he vowed that the government of the day would not shield any person or persons linked to terrorism or terrorism financing.
“No responsible government would, in the same vein, fold its hands or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing levelled against any individual, no matter how highly placed, in this case, Malami, SAN.
“In the course of investigations, we have what is called inter-agency cooperation. It is not uncommon for one security agency to hand over a person under investigation to another sister security agency. In Nigeria, the DSS is the sole security agency tasked with the responsibility of investigating such allegations. It’ll be best to allow them do their job.”