The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), has yet to perfect his bail conditions amid a fresh investigation into arms and ammunition allegedly discovered in his residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Malami is facing a separate and serious probe by the Department of State Services (DSS) following the discovery of the arms at his Kebbi country home., The Nation reports.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered the arms and ammunition during a search of Malami’s residence.
However, because the investigation of illegal arms possession falls outside the EFCC’s statutory mandate, the anti-graft agency reportedly handed over the weapons to the DSS for a comprehensive investigation.
The Nation reports that the quantity of arms and ammunition recovered could not be immediately confirmed. However, sources said the number was substantial enough to warrant a full-scale DSS investigation.
Malami, who was granted bail last week alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Asabe Bashir, remains at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, having failed to meet the bail conditions imposed by the court.
Last week, SaharaReporters reported that sources said that the former minister was deliberately delaying the perfection of his bail in order to avoid immediate arrest by the DSS over the arms-related investigation.
The news platform earlier on Thursday reported that Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) had been placed under a heavy security blanket as over 50 DSS operatives took up strategic positions around the facility beginning Wednesday.
Sources described the deployment as a preemptive move to ensure that Malami, being held at the facility does not escape an investigation into terrorism-related offences, especially after he was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in his N8.7 billion money laundering case on Wednesday.
According to sources familiar with the development, Malami, therefore, instructed his legal team to slow down the bail process amid fears that DSS operatives were prepared to rearrest him immediately upon his release in connection with an ongoing investigation linked to alleged terrorism financing.
“Malami has slowed down his bail processing as DSS operatives besiege Kuje Prison to arrest him for terrorism related charges upon being released on bail,” a top security source told SaharaReporters last week. “The former attorney general has told his lawyers to step down his bail processing as over 50 DSS officers lay siege to the prison compound waiting to pounce on him.”
“The former minister is being separately investigated for allegedly having arms in his house in Birnin Kebbi. The inventory of the shock find has been handed over to the DSS,” a source confirmed SaharaReporters’ report to The Nation.
“It is now left to Malami to explain to the DSS how he came about the arms. That’s why he is yet to perfect his bail conditions. He is holed up in prison to avoid arrest by the DSS.
“DSS operatives are within the precincts of Kuje Correctional Service to invite Malami. He got wind of their presence and raised the alarm. But the law must take its course.”
Another source within the EFCC confirmed that Malami has not fulfilled the requirements attached to his bail.
“By our records, the ex-AGF is still in custody. We saw all manners of fake clips on social media on his purported arrival and rousing reception in Kebbi State,” the source said, dismissing claims that Malami had regained freedom.
The source further revealed that investigations into Malami’s activities did not begin recently but date back several years.
“The investigation into Malami’s activities during his tenure began when former EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu was in office.
“Investigation continued through the administration of another Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Chukkol, to the present Executive Chairman. Chukkol, who works in the agency, was in charge briefly before Olukoyede’s appointment.
“There is nothing vindictive about his investigation since 2019. It is an inherited case, and the ex-AGF knows this,” the source said.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, also confirmed during an interview last night on Channels Television that he inherited the Malami case upon assuming office.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last week ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons. The assets, according to court documents, are valued at ₦213,234,120,000.
The court granted Malami, his sons, or any other interested claimant a 14-day window to appear before it and provide evidence that the assets were lawfully acquired.
However, failure to present satisfactory proof within the stipulated period may result in the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
The interim forfeiture order was made pursuant to the invocation of the Non-Conviction Asset Forfeiture provisions contained in the EFCC Establishment Act.
The EFCC had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order to seize the properties located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi. According to the anti-graft agency, they are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
