The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN again.
Reports indicated that Malami was arrested late Monday night and was reportedly struggling to meet the stringent bail conditions set by the EFCC that same night.
According to sources, Mr Malami was actively searching for two serving permanent secretaries to stand as sureties, a critical requirement to fulfill the bail conditions for his release.
“EFCC arrested Abubakar Malami again; he was looking for two Permanent Secretaries for bail conditions on Monday night,” a source privy to the probe disclosed.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a source from the commission confirmed the development, stating that Malami remained in custody until 10 pm on Tuesday for failing to comply with the bail requirements.
The former minister has been asked by the anti-graft agency to account for issues relating to money laundering, particularly the operation of suspicious accounts.
“We have detained him over terrorism financing and the whereabouts of Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey in the UK. He would remain in custody until he fulfils the requirements.
“We arrested him for not meeting his bail conditions and he will remain in our custody until he meets those conditions. He is presently in our custody. He was initially granted bail but did not meet the conditions. The offences against him are many,” the EFCC source said.
The anti-graft agency had instructed the former minister to appear daily for interrogation throughout December.
“Presently, we are investigating him for 18 different offences. Some of them are money laundering, abuse of office and terrorism financing.
“We cannot put a figure to the amount involved now because we keep uncovering some of the deals as we investigate,” the source disclosed
The arrest is the second detention and interrogation by the anti-graft agency in a few days as he initially honored an EFCC invitation on Friday, November 28, to clarify certain issues and was granted bail but was almost forced to spend the night in custody due to the conditions.
Malami later confirmed his release from the first detention, stating on his official X handle,
“The engagement was successful and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continue to unfold.”
