Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was re-arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday, January 19, 2026, shortly after his release from Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. The fresh allegations involve terrorism financing and the discovery of illegal arms, marking a new dimension in his ongoing legal battles.

Security sources confirmed that DSS operatives took Malami into custody immediately after he exited the facility, while officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service verified his prior release after meeting stringent bail conditions. Witnesses captured Malami on video questioning the operatives’ identity before being escorted into a black pickup vehicle.

Background: Previous Investigations and Bail Conditions

Malami’s re-arrest follows a series of investigations, including raids conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin-Kebbi in December 2025. During the searches, illegal arms were reportedly recovered at his Birnin-Kebbi residence, a matter outside EFCC jurisdiction and subsequently handed over to the DSS for further probe.

Previously, on December 29, 2025, Malami, along with his wife Asabe Bashir and son Abdulaziz Malami, was arraigned by the EFCC on a 16-count money laundering charge involving approximately N8.7 billion. They were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until January 7,2026, when Justice Emeka Nwite granted bail of N500 million each, subject to strict conditions including the surrender of property documents and passports, and the provision of verifiable sureties.

The same day, the court also ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties, valued at over N212 billion, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami’s tenure as Attorney General (2015–2023).

Ongoing Legal and Institutional Controversies

Amid these proceedings, Malami accused EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede of bias, demanding his recusal due to prior involvement in the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry, where Olukoyede had served as secretary. Malami described Olukoyede’s involvement as “legally untenable, morally indefensible, and constitutionally impermissible.”

EFCC Chairman Olukoyede, in turn, rejected claims of political targeting, stressing that the investigation predated his tenure and was handled professionally. He emphasized that anti-corruption efforts must remain non-partisan for Nigeria’s progress.

Malami’s re-arrest marks the third distinct phase of detention since December 8, 2025, highlighting the escalating complexity of his legal challenges. The DSS has yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest detention.