Former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami was taken into custody by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives on January 19, 2026, shortly after finally leaving Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The dramatic turn came after days of high-stakes standoff. Malami had perfected his ₦500 million bail conditions in the ₦8.7 billion money laundering case involving him, his wife, and son but hesitated to step out, citing fears of immediate rearrest.
Reports indicate he deliberately delayed his release, believing prison offered safer ground amid a separate DSS probe sparked by arms and ammunition discovered during EFCC searches at his Birnin Kebbi residence. The items were handed to DSS for investigation into illegal possession and possible terrorism financing links.
Malami's team had earlier raised alarms, with his media aide Mohammed Bello Doka stating on January 7 that intelligence pointed to DSS surveillance around the prison for a fresh arrest on "trumped-up and unrelated charges." The statement warned such actions threatened the rule of law and personal safety.
The saga intensified with chaotic scenes: Malami's son Abdulaziz was reportedly rearrested at the facility days earlier amid alleged attempts to "sneak" him out. Social media buzzed with videos of the moment Malami was whisked away, fueling speculation about political undercurrents in Nigeria's high-profile anti-graft battles.
His money laundering trial remains scheduled for February 17, 2026, while asset forfeiture proceedings continue over dozens of properties. The latest custody shift has left observers questioning the boundaries between justice and power plays in this unfolding scandal
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