Former AGF Malami Detained by DSS Amid Terrorism Financing Probe After Arms Allegation
Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, has been rearrested and taken into custody, this time by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
His arrest, on Monday, was in connection with alleged terrorism financing.
Malami, his son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir, were on January 7, remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center pending the perfection of their separate bail granted them by a Federal High Court, Abuja.
They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a 16 count criminal charge bordering on fraud and money laundering to the tune of N9 billion.
Following their not guilty plea, Justice Emeka Nwite, admitted them to bail in the sum of N500 million naira each.
Report, however, had it that Malami has again been arrested and was being detained for investigation on alleged terrorism financing.
His arrest and subsequent detention was based on the alleged discovery of arms and ammunition at his country home in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
The arms were discovered by the anti-graft agency when they searched his residence for evidence in relation to his fraud and money laundering investigation.
Since the alleged illegal possession of firearms fell outside the EFCC mandate, the agency handed the matter over to the DSS for comprehensive investigation.
Confirming the arrest, a source within the security network, disclosed that the former minister was being investigated over his alleged links with terrorism.
“Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing,” the source said.
He stressed that, terrorism and terrorism financing were serious offences globally, which could not be taken lightly.
“You’ll recall that when Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, he vowed that the government of the day would not shield any person or persons linked to terrorism or terrorism financing.
“No responsible government would, in the same vein, fold its hands or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing leveled against any individual, no matter how highly placed. In this case, Malami, SAN.
“In the course of investigations, we have what is called inter-agency cooperation. It is not uncommon for one security agency to hand over a person under investigation to another sister security agency.
“In Nigeria, the DSS is the sole security agency tasked with the responsibility of investigating such allegations. It’ll be best to allow them do their job,” the source concluded.
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