Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is at the center of a significant legal and financial controversy. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stated on Wednesday that it has not received any court order granting him bail, a claim disputed by Malami's legal team. This development unfolds amidst his detention over money laundering charges and accusations of illegal wealth accumulation.

The EFCC's lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), described reports of an ex-parte court order granting bail to Malami as “bizarre and absurd.” He emphasized that Malami was lawfully remanded in EFCC custody by trial judge S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court on December 10, for a 14-day period pending investigation, an order he states remains in effect. Okutepa also noted that a previous ex-parte bail application filed by Malami’s lawyers before another judge, Babaginda Hassan, was dismissed on December 18, on the grounds that Malami was lawfully detained. According to Okutepa, a subsequent ex-parte application allegedly granting bail before another judge, Bello Kawu, was filed without respecting existing court orders. The EFCC maintained that Malami is being lawfully detained under valid and subsisting court orders.

However, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Judge Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court in Abuja recently granted Malami bail after an ex parte hearing, adopting the bail conditions earlier set by the EFCC. Malami's media aide, Mohammed Doka, countered the EFCC's stance, accusing the commission of refusing to release his client despite the court-approved bail and fulfillment of the attached conditions. In a statement, Doka alleged that EFCC officials rejected the bail order,