Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Monday taken into custody by security operatives shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly picked up the former minister immediately after he exited the correctional facility. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission denied re-arresting him.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed to Punch that Malami was released after fulfilling his bail conditions.
“He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” an official said.
Another official added, “He joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
A video obtained by The Punch showed Malami being led to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the correctional centre.
In the footage, the former AGF was heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”
Reacting to the development, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, reiterated the commission’s position, saying, “We didn’t pick him up after he was released.”
Malami’s release followed the granting of bail on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The court admitted Malami, his wife, Asabe, and his son to bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with stringent conditions.
Each defendant was ordered to produce two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa, deposit the property documents with the court, and submit affidavits of means. They were also directed to surrender their international passports and barred from travelling out of the country without court approval.
Malami, his wife and son had been remanded at Kuje following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts bordering on money laundering involving about ₦8.7 billion.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly used multiple corporate entities, bank accounts and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities.
Court documents indicated that Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over ₦1.01 billion between July 2022 and June 2025, while another ₦600 million reportedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the trio disguised the origin of ₦500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Malami had been in EFCC custody since December 8, 2025, after failing to meet earlier bail conditions. On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan upheld his detention as lawful.