A team of lawyers and associates of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday returned to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the intervention of Justice Emeka Nwite to enable his release from Kuje Correctional Centre.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the development followed moves by one of Malami’s sureties to withdraw from the bail arrangement, despite the bail having been perfected and signed by the judge a day earlier.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Malami’s legal team approached the court to seek the judge’s understanding and avoid complications that could further delay his exit from custody. It was, however, unclear what decision was reached by the close of proceedings on Friday.
Justice Nwite had last week granted Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with stringent conditions. The court ordered each defendant to provide two sureties in like sum, who must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa, Abuja. The defendants were also directed to submit their travel documents, passport photographs and property documents for verification by the Deputy Chief Registrar, while the sureties were to depose to affidavits of means.
Despite fulfilling the bail conditions, SaharaReporters had reported that Malami declined to leave the correctional facility over fears that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) might rearrest him immediately upon release. Sources said the former minister instructed his lawyers to seek an ex parte order restraining security agencies, particularly the DSS, from taking him into custody. No such order was granted by the court.
Malami is said to be facing a separate investigation by the DSS following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his residence in Kebbi State. The weapons were reportedly uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a search of his home and later handed over to the DSS, as the matter falls outside the EFCC’s statutory mandate.
Meanwhile, Malami, alongside his wife and son, is standing trial before Justice Nwite on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering involving ₦8.7 billion, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In a related development, the Federal High Court has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons, valued at about ₦213.2 billion. The court granted the defendants and any other interested parties 14 days to show cause why the properties, located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi, should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The forfeiture order was made under the non-conviction-based asset forfeiture provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act, following an application by the anti-graft agency, which said the assets were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
