Trending 
Nigeria’s former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was taken away by security operatives on Monday, moments after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly picked up Malami immediately after he stepped out of the correctional facility. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later stated that it was not involved in the action.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) confirmed that Malami was released after fulfilling the conditions attached to his bail.
“He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” a correctional service official said. Another official confirmed that Malami “joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”
A viral video showed Malami being escorted towards a black vehicle shortly after his release. In the clip, the former minister was heard questioning the operatives, asking to know their leader and requesting to see an identity card.
Malami’s release followed a bail ruling delivered on January 7 by Emeka Nwite of the High Court in Abuja. The court granted bail to Malami, his wife, Asabe, and his son in the sum of N500 million each.
As part of the bail terms, each defendant was required to present two sureties with verifiable landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, submit property documents to the court, and file affidavits of means. They were also ordered to surrender their international passports and were restricted from travelling outside Nigeria without court approval.
The former attorney general, his wife, and his son were remanded at Kuje after their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on 16 counts bordering on alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
