The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, after failure to meet the bail conditions granted to him. A source from the commission who confirmed the development said that Malami was still in custody till 10.00p.m. on Tuesday for failing to meet the bail requirement and would remain in custody until he fulfils the requirements.
The former minister has been asked by the anti-graft agency to clear himself of issues relating to money laundering, especially the operation of suspicious accounts. ”We have detained him over terrorism financing and the whereabouts of Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey in the UK.”He would remain in custody until he fulfils the requirements.
“We arrested him for not meeting his bail conditions, and he will remain in our custody until he meets those conditions.“ He is presently in our custody. He was initially granted bail but did not meet the conditions. The offences against him are many,” the EFCC source said.
The commission had asked the former minister to be appearing daily for interrogation through December. ”Presently, we are investigating him for 18 different offences. Some of them are money laundering, abuse of office, and terrorism financing.” We cannot put a figure to the amount involved now because we keep uncovering some of the deals as we investigate,” the source disclosed.
Malami had earlier disclosed his interrogation by the commission on November 29 in a post on X, describing the engagement as productive and insisting that allegations against him were “fabricated.”
He wrote, “In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for his divine intervention.“ The engagement was successful, and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continue to unfold.”