ALLEGED TERROR FINANCING: DSS INTENSIFIES INVESTIGATION AS MALAMI FACES LONG DETENTION
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The former Federation Attorney General Abubakar Malami (SAN) may be detained by the Department of State Services for an extended period of time. According to several security sources, Malami will likely be detained for an extended period of time because the DSS is already attempting to get a court order to hold him until the investigations are finished.
Malami’s most recent nightmare started on Monday when he was arrested by DSS agents just after he was granted bail and freed from the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja. Only a few minutes after leaving the institution, where he had been held since early December due to accusations made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he was arrested. According to security sources, the DSS is requesting a court order to extend his arrest, citing the delicate and intricate nature of the investigations, which should take several months. The former AGF was first detained by the EFCC on suspicion of conspiring with his wife, Asabe, and their son to hide around N8.7 billion in proceeds from illegal operations. The anti-graft agency claims that the alleged offenses included the use of several company companies, bank accounts, and expensive real estate purchases in Abuja and other regions of the nation.
On December 29, 2025, the three were charged with 16 counts that included conspiracy and money laundering before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Each of them entered a not guilty plea to the accusations. Malami had been detained since December 8 because he had not been able to fulfill the bail requirements that had been set for him prior to their arraignment.
On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court led by Justice Babangida Hassan maintained his imprisonment, finding that it was appropriate in the given situation. The Federal High Court’s Justice Emeka Nwite did not grant Malami, his wife, and son N500 million in bail with strict conditions until January 7. The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring to hide N8.7 billion in proceeds from illegal activities through a number of corporate organizations, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions in Abuja and other regions of the nation. To the sixteen charges, they entered a not guilty plea.
On December 29, 2025, the three were charged with 16 counts that included conspiracy and money laundering before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Each of them entered a not guilty plea to the accusations. Malami had been detained since December 8 because he had not been able to fulfill the bail requirements that had been set for him prior to their arraignment.
On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court led by Justice Babangida Hassan maintained his imprisonment, finding that it was appropriate in the given situation. The Federal High Court’s Justice Emeka Nwite did not grant Malami, his wife, and son N500 million in bail with strict conditions until January 7. The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring to hide N8.7 billion in proceeds from illegal activities through a number of corporate organizations, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions in Abuja and other regions of the nation. To the sixteen charges, they entered a not guilty plea.
However, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 7 granted Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of N500 million each.
Justice Nwite ordered that each defendant produce two sureties with verifiable landed property within Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa areas of Abuja.
The court also directed that the title documents of the properties be deposited with the court for verification by the Deputy Chief Registrar, while the sureties were to depose to affidavits of means.
Twelve days after he was granted bail, Malami perfected his bail and was leaving the correctional centre when the DSS picked him up.
It was gathered that the ex-AGF might not be released anytime soon, as investigations may take months.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Malami is being grilled over his handling of the list of Nigerian terror financiers released by the United Arab Emirates.
“The investigation is likely going to take a long time. This is why we are working to get a court order on Wednesday (today) to detain him further. A source told the media
“There are several issues he is being questioned on. One of them is the handling of the terrorism financiers list released by the UAE in 2021 and some terror financiers during his term as the AGF. So, this investigation will take a very long time. I am not sure he will be released anytime soon.”
Six Nigerians with connections to the rebel organization Boko Haram were identified as terrorist financiers by UAE authorities in 2021. In Resolution No. 83 of 2021, the UAE Cabinet adopted a list of 38 individuals and 15 organizations that support Boko Haram and other terrorist causes. Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammad Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad were among those named by the UAE authorities.
The list’s publication at the time caused a great deal of controversy in Nigeria, raising concerns about how suspected terror financiers could operate there and whether Nigerian authorities had taken effective action based on information provided by foreign nations.
Paradoxically, Malami had frequently promised as Attorney General that the government would not protect anyone connected to terrorism or its funding. He openly insisted that anyone found guilty will face legal consequences regardless of their position. According to reports, investigators are reexamining those statements in light of the current accusations made against him.
Political analysts note that Malami’s case reflects a broader pattern of post-tenure scrutiny of former top officials, particularly those who wielded enormous influence during the Muhammadu Buhari administration. As AGF and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023, Malami was involved in several high-profile cases, including asset recoveries, prosecutions of corruption suspects, and controversial legal opinions that often generated public debate.
Another source said Malami is also being questioned over an arms cache allegedly found in his Kebbi home, as well as terrorism and terrorism financing petitions against him.
“He will also be probed on the arms cache found in his Kebbi home. Beyond this, there are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing. Terrorism and terrorism financing are serious offences globally. You’ll recall that when Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, he vowed that the government of the day would not shield any person or persons linked to terrorism or terrorism financing.
“No responsible government would, in the same vein, fold its hands or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing levelled against any individual, no matter how highly placed, in this case, Malami, SAN.
“In the course of investigations, we have what is called inter-agency cooperation. It is not uncommon for one security agency to hand over a person under investigation to another sister security agency. In Nigeria, the DSS is the sole security agency tasked with the responsibility of investigating such allegations. It’ll be best to allow them do their job,” the source said.
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