- Malami’s Lawyers Return to Court Over Fresh Concerns Over Bail Surety
- Former AGF reportedly remains in custody over fears of DSS rearrest
- Court orders interim forfeiture of assets worth over ₦213bn
A team of lawyers and loyalists of the embattled former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday returned to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the understanding of the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, to facilitate his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the development followed reports that one of the sureties involved in Malami’s bail process had threatened to withdraw, despite the bail having been completed and signed by the court a day earlier.
A source familiar with the matter said the legal team approached the court to avoid complications that could further delay Malami’s release from custody.
“A group of lawyers and loyalists of Malami returned to the Federal High Court on Friday, seeking the understanding of the judge to facilitate his unceremonious departure from Kuje Prison,” the source said.
“It is understood that a surety wanted to pull out of the bail processing after it was completed and signed by the judge yesterday.”
As of the close of proceedings on Friday, it remained unclear what decision, if any, the court reached on the request.
However, a legal practitioner familiar with the case said the visit was aimed at ensuring that the former AGF could leave custody with the judge’s understanding and without further procedural obstacles.
Justice Nwite had last week granted Malami, his wife and his son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with strict conditions attached.
The court ordered that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum, with the sureties owning landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa areas of Abuja.
Justice Nwite also directed that the property documents be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means. The defendants were further ordered to submit their travel documents, obtain court permission before travelling, and provide two recent passport photographs each, alongside those of their sureties.
Despite reportedly meeting all the bail conditions, Malami was said to have declined to leave Kuje Correctional Centre, citing fears of an immediate rearrest by operatives of the Department of State Services.
Sources disclosed that the former minister instructed his lawyers to seek an ex parte order restraining security agencies, particularly the DSS, from arresting him upon release. No such order was granted by the court.
A source said Malami believed remaining in custody was safer than risking an immediate rearrest.
“His continued stay at the correctional centre is by personal choice, not because of any subsisting court order,” the source said.
Malami is also reportedly facing a separate investigation by the DSS following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his country home in Kebbi State.
Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered the weapons during a search of his residence, the agency reportedly transferred the matter to the DSS, as arms related offences fall outside its statutory mandate.
While the exact quantity of the recovered arms could not be confirmed, sources said it was significant enough to warrant a full scale investigation.
On December 30, 2025, the EFCC arraigned Malami alongside his wife, Asabe, and son, Abdulaziz, before Justice Nwite on a 16 count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering amounting to ₦8.71 billion, contrary to the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court also ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons, valued at about ₦213.23 billion.
The court granted the defendants 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
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