Operatives of the Department of State Services on Friday rearrested Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja after an alleged attempt to move him out of custody without the usual procedures.
Sources at the facility said officials of the Federal High Court had earlier arrived with completed bail documents to process Abdulaziz’s release. However, those familiar with the situation claimed that the former minister wanted his son taken out quietly instead of going through the normal handover processes carried out by the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Security sources said intelligence agencies had already placed the facility under heavy surveillance following reports that moves were underway to take Abdulaziz out without attracting public attention. The Department of State Services was said to have profiled vehicles leaving the facility, which led to his interception and rearrest moments after he was handed over to those facilitating his exit.
A security source stated, “The bailiffs came with valid documents, but Malami reportedly refused the normal process and wanted his son quietly moved out. DSS operatives monitored all movements and rearrested him.”
Another official described the incident as a sign of growing worries within the intelligence community about what was termed “irregular efforts” in the handling of the bail process involving the former minister and his family.
Abdulaziz is currently standing trial alongside his father and the former minister’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. The case involves an alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud and money laundering scheme filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier charged the three defendants with 16 counts that included conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022. All defendants have entered not-guilty pleas.
Court documents indicated that the anti-corruption agency accused Malami of using corporate entities such as Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Limited to move public funds during his time in office. The charges covered alleged transactions running into hundreds of millions of naira and the acquisition of several high-end properties across locations including Maitama, Jabi, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi.
In late December, Abdulaziz was reported to have been taken to the prison clinic after falling ill. Early in January, the Department of State Services deployed more than fifty operatives to the Kuje facility due to growing security concerns linked to the high-profile case.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Correctional Service were unsuccessful as officials did not respond at the time of filing this report.