By Obinna Uballa
Fresh trouble has deepened for former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), following the discovery of arms and ammunition in his residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, triggering a separate investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The development emerged as Malami has yet to perfect the bail conditions granted to him last week in an ₦8.7 billion money laundering case, raising strong suspicions that he is deliberately delaying his release to avoid immediate re-arrest by the DSS.
According to a report by The Nation Newspaper, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered the arms during a search of Malami’s Kebbi residence. However, as the investigation of illegal arms possession falls outside the EFCC’s statutory mandate, the weapons were reportedly handed over to the DSS for further action.
Although the exact quantity of arms and ammunition recovered could not be immediately confirmed, sources said the haul was significant enough to warrant a full-scale security investigation.
Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and his wife, Asabe Bashir, were granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja but remain in custody at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) after failing to meet the bail conditions.
Security sources disclosed that DSS operatives have since mounted heavy surveillance around the Kuje facility, with over 50 officers reportedly deployed to strategic positions to prevent Malami from evading an arms-related and alleged terrorism-financing investigation.
It was earlier reported that the former justice minister instructed his legal team to slow down the bail process after learning that DSS operatives were prepared to arrest him immediately upon release.
“Malami deliberately stalled his bail after getting wind that DSS operatives were waiting to rearrest him over terrorism-related allegations,” a senior security source reportedly said. “He is effectively staying back in custody to avoid another arrest.”
Another source confirmed that the arms recovered from Malami’s residence had been fully inventoried and transferred to the DSS.
“It is now left for Malami to explain how such arms were found in his house in Birnin Kebbi. That is the reason he has not perfected his bail,” the source said, adding that the law would be allowed to take its full course.
An EFCC source also dismissed claims circulating on social media that Malami had regained his freedom and returned to Kebbi.
“By our records, Malami is still in custody. Those videos showing celebrations and reception are fake,” the source said.
The EFCC further revealed that investigations into Malami’s activities did not begin recently but date back to 2019, during the tenure of former Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
“The investigation continued under successive leaderships of the commission and was inherited by the current chairman, Ola Olukoyede. There is nothing vindictive about the case,” the source added.
Olukoyede himself confirmed during an interview on Channels Television that the Malami case was already ongoing when he assumed office.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons, valued at about N213.23 billion.
The court granted Malami and other interested parties 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The order was issued under the non-conviction-based asset forfeiture provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act.
The EFCC had approached the court, seeking the forfeiture of the properties located across Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi, which it suspects are proceeds of unlawful activities.
