The detention of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has taken a new twist as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) moves to hand him over to the Department of State Services (DSS) following the alleged discovery of high-calibre arms and ammunition in his residence.
The latest development has triggered a fresh round of security investigations, further complicating Malami’s legal troubles despite a Federal High Court earlier granting him bail in an ongoing financial crimes case being prosecuted by the EFCC.
Sources close to the DSS headquarters disclosed that the decision to transfer Malami was informed by intelligence reports and preliminary findings pointing to the presence of prohibited weapons. According to the sources, the matter goes beyond the EFCC’s statutory mandate of investigating economic and financial crimes and falls squarely within the purview of the nation’s domestic intelligence agency.
The alleged discovery of the arms, the sources said, raised serious national security concerns, prompting swift action and the commencement of parallel investigations separate from the corruption-related charges already pending against the former justice minister.
Malami has, however, vehemently protested his continued detention, describing it as a direct violation of the court order that granted him bail. Speaking through his legal team from detention, the former Attorney-General expressed frustration and emotional distress over the situation.
“I honestly don’t know what is going on. The court has granted me bail, yet I don’t understand why the EFCC is refusing to obey the court order. It’s very simple — obey the court and let me go home. I have a family waiting for me. If there is one thing I truly want, it’s not to end 2025 in jail,” Malami was quoted as saying.
A DSS source familiar with the investigation explained that while court orders are binding and must be respected, the emergence of fresh evidence can legally justify continued detention under a separate investigative framework.
“If a new and unrelated allegation arises, especially one with national security implications, security agencies are within their rights to open a fresh investigation. That said, due process must be strictly followed to avoid actions that could amount to contempt of court,” the source stated.
The source further noted that the alleged presence of high-calibre weapons, if substantiated, is a serious red flag that warrants deeper scrutiny.
“It raises critical questions about intent, possible networks and potential threats. This is why the DSS would naturally take the lead. While national security considerations can
