News

Malami Taken Into DSS Custody After Release From Kuje Prison

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedJanuary 20, 2026

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 in Abuja.

Malami was reportedly picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services immediately after he exited the correctional facility.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission clarified that it did not re-arrest the former minister.

Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Malami was released after fulfilling his bail conditions.

“He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” one official said.

Another official added, “He joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”

A video obtained by PUNCH showed Malami being led to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the correctional centre.

In the footage, he was heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”

Efforts to obtain comments from the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were unsuccessful as calls to her phone were not returned.

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, reiterated, “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 in Abuja.

The court granted bail to Malami, his wife, and his son in the sum of N500 million each, with strict conditions attached.

Each defendant was ordered to produce two sureties with verifiable landed property within Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa.

They were also required to deposit property documents with the court and submit affidavits of means.

The defendants were directed to surrender their international passports and barred from travelling abroad without prior court approval.

Malami, his wife Asabe, and his son were remanded at Kuje following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025.

They are facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving about N8.7bn.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants used multiple corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities.

Court documents marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025 stated that Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.01bn between July 2022 and June 2025.

Another N600m was allegedly traced to a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.

The anti-graft agency further claimed that the trio disguised the source of N500m used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama.

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.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.