In a dramatic turn of events, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) intercepted and arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, on Monday. The arrest took place right outside the gates of the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, shortly after the former minister had completed his visit to the facility.
The scene was captured in a video circulating on social media, showing Malami walking toward a vehicle used by the operatives. Before he was led away, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria was seen calmly insisting that the officers provide their official identification cards, a request they reportedly complied with before he entered the van.
A high-level security source revealed that the arrest is tied to several serious petitions filed against the former AGF. These allegations specifically center on terrorism financing—a charge that carries significant weight both locally and internationally. The source noted that during his time in office, Malami himself often emphasized that the government would never shield anyone linked to such grave crimes, and current authorities are now acting on that same principle.
The source further explained that the DSS is the primary agency responsible for investigating matters of national security and terrorism in Nigeria. It was noted that inter-agency cooperation often leads to one security body handing over a suspect to a sister agency if the nature of the alleged crime falls under their specific jurisdiction.
This development follows a period of heightened surveillance around the Kuje facility. While Malami’s team had previously raised alarms about a potential “standby” arrest, security officials maintain that they are simply following due process to investigate the weighty claims brought against him. As it stands, the former minister is expected to remain in custody while the investigation into the petitions continues.
