The Department of State Services (DSS) have rearrested Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, at Kuje Correctional Centre following what insiders describe as an attempt to circumvent proper bail formalities.
The dramatic episode unfolded on Friday, January 16, 2026, when bailiffs from the Federal High Court arrived at Kuje with fully processed bail documents aimed at securing Abdulaziz’s release. However, sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters that rather than adhere to formal procedures, the senior Malami allegedly sought to orchestrate a more discreet exit for his son, a move that heightened tensions and drew intensified surveillance from security agencies already monitoring activities around the facility.
Security officials had reportedly placed the correctional centre under heightened scrutiny days earlier after receiving intelligence suggesting “irregular efforts” to engineer Abdulaziz’s release outside of official channels. Operatives positioned around the prison were said to have checked and profiled every vehicle leaving the facility.
A source privy to the incident, speaking on condition of anonymity, described how events played out.
“This happened on Friday; the son was taken from bailiffs from the Federal High Court who brought fully processed bail papers but Malami refused to leave, urging that they sneak his son out. But the DSS profiled every car leaving and rearrested his son.”
That proactive profiling reportedly enabled the DSS to intercept Abdulaziz shortly after he was handed over to individuals allegedly facilitating his departure.
This development comes amid a broader, highly publicised legal ordeal involving the Malami family. In late December 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja remanded the former AGF, his son, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, at Kuje Correctional Centre following their arraignment on a 16-count money laundering charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include allegations that they conspired to disguise and launder proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to billions of naira through corporate fronts, bank accounts, and high-value real estate acquisitions across multiple states.
Because the judge adjourned their bail hearing to January 2, 2026, the defendants were ordered to remain in detention at Kuje pending that process.
In subsequent days, the Malami legal team approached the court seeking guidance after a surety threatened to withdraw support, but the former AGF remained in custody amidst concerns about possible re-arrest by security agencies over additional probes, including alleged terrorism financing.
The DSS’s interception of Abdulaziz has underscored heightened anxieties within the intelligence community over attempts to manage high-profile detentions away from public scrutiny. While officials have not issued a formal public statement about the rearrest, the incident highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding the case and the security services’ determination to ensure that judicial processes are followed to the letter.
