The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, back into custody barely hours after he fulfilled the conditions for his release from Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Security sources confirmed that DSS operatives intercepted the former minister shortly after he stepped out of the prison facility, where he had been held pending the perfection of his bail. The move has heightened public scrutiny around the unfolding legal and security drama surrounding the once-powerful justice chief.
Investigations indicate that the re-arrest is linked to a fresh probe being conducted by the secret police. It was gathered that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), during a search of Malami’s country home in Kebbi State, reportedly uncovered arms, a development that has now widened the scope of investigations against him.
A Federal High Court had, on Wednesday, granted Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with two sureties. The court’s decision was seen as a procedural milestone in the case. However, events that followed have underscored the complex interplay between judicial processes and ongoing security investigations.
Prior to his release, Malami had raised the alarm over an alleged plan to re-arrest him. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, the former minister claimed that DSS operatives were conducting surveillance around the correctional centre with the intention of taking him back into custody once bail conditions were met.
That apprehension appears to have materialised. Sources said Malami had successfully complied with all bail requirements before he was picked up again by DSS operatives, reinforcing speculation that the security agency is pursuing a separate line of inquiry independent of the initial charges.
