The former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), is facing a fresh investigation following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. The arms, which were uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation, as illegal arms possession falls outside the EFCC’s mandate.
Sources report that the quantity of arms recovered was substantial, prompting the DSS to initiate a comprehensive probe. However, the exact number of arms and ammunition has not been confirmed.
Malami, who is currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, has not been able to meet the conditions of his bail in a separate case related to money laundering. His failure to fulfill the bail conditions has led to speculation that he may be attempting to delay his release to avoid immediate arrest by the DSS over the arms discovery.
The former AGF was granted bail last week alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Asabe Bashir. However, sources suggest that Malami is intentionally slowing down the bail process to prevent being re-arrested by DSS operatives, who are reportedly stationed at the Kuje prison awaiting his release.
SaharaReporters previously reported that DSS agents were on high alert at the Kuje prison in anticipation of Malami’s release, fearing that he could be re-arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into terrorism financing. Malami, however, allegedly instructed his legal team to delay his bail to avoid immediate confrontation with the DSS.
In addition to the arms investigation, Malami is also under scrutiny for allegedly diverting over $1 billion from a cloned National Petroleum Corporation (NPA) account. The EFCC has opened a separate probe into this allegation.
Furthermore, a Federal High Court in Abuja last week ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons. These assets, valued at ₦213.2 billion, include properties in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi. Malami and his family have been given a 14-day window to prove the legitimacy of the assets, failing which they will be permanently forfeited to the government.
The investigations into Malami’s activities, dating back several years, have continued under multiple EFCC administrations. The case is widely considered to be a long-standing investigation that began during the tenure of former EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu and has continued under the current leadership of Ola Olukoyede.
Malami’s legal troubles are far from over, as he faces multiple investigations and potential charges related to financial misconduct, illegal arms possession, and terrorism financing. The outcome of these investigations will have significant implications for the former AGF and his family.
