The Department of State Services has arrested a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), over alleged terrorism financing following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his residence in Kebbi State.
Security sources said Malami was taken into custody on Monday shortly after leaving the Kuje Correctional Service in Abuja, where he had gone to perfect bail conditions in an ongoing economic and financial crimes case involving alleged N8 billion fraud.
According to the sources, weapons recovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during a search of Malami’s Binin Kebbi mansion were subsequently handed over to the DSS, prompting the security agency to open a separate investigation.
A security official confirmed the arrest, stating: “Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Malami. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing, which is a grave offence globally.”
The source added that inter-agency collaboration informed the handover of the matter to the DSS. “The DSS is the agency statutorily empowered to investigate terrorism-related offences. No responsible government would ignore such serious allegations, no matter how highly placed the individual involved,” he said.
Investigations also revealed that another former minister, alleged to be collaborating with Malami, is currently outside the country and has been placed on a watch list. Intelligence sources claimed the individual established a base abroad to coordinate activities aimed at destabilising Nigeria.
“One of the suspects has refused to return to the country,” a senior intelligence source said. “If necessary, the Federal Government may seek his repatriation after obtaining the appropriate court approvals, especially as he is operating from a jurisdiction that does not tolerate terrorism.”
Malami, who served as Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023, had previously stated while in office that the government would not shield any individual linked to terrorism or its financing. Security agencies say investigations are ongoing.
