The Department of State Services (DSS) has rearrested a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, shortly after he regained freedom from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Malami was taken into custody on Wednesday evening after meeting all the bail conditions granted to him by a Federal High Court earlier in the day. He was picked up by DSS operatives just as he was leaving the prison facility, according to sources familiar with the development.
The rearrest is linked to a fresh investigation by the DSS following the discovery of arms at Malami’s country home in Kebbi State. The arms were reportedly found during a search carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Security sources said the DSS decided to step in after receiving intelligence reports related to the arms discovery, which they described as a serious national security concern. The secret police are believed to be probing how the weapons were acquired and whether they were legally owned.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, has been under investigation for several alleged offences since leaving office. His arrest and continued detention have drawn public attention because of his former high-ranking position in government.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted Malami bail alongside his wife and son. The court set bail at ₦500 million each and ordered them to provide two sureties with landed property in Abuja. The judge also directed that their travel documents be submitted to the court.
After meeting the bail conditions, Malami was released from Kuje Prison, where he had been held following earlier charges. However, his freedom was short-lived as DSS officials were already on ground to take him into custody again.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami accused the DSS of planning his rearrest even before he completed his bail process. The statement claimed that DSS operatives had been conducting surveillance around the correctional centre.
“The attention of the public has been drawn to the unusual presence of DSS operatives around Kuje Prison, clearly aimed at rearresting Malami despite the court’s decision,” Doka said.
The statement added that Malami had earlier raised concerns about what he described as attempts to undermine the rule of law and intimidate him through repeated arrests.
This is not the first time Malami has alleged harassment by security agencies. In recent weeks, he had publicly accused the DSS of plotting to arrest him inside the prison, a claim that has now gained renewed attention following the latest development.
The EFCC, which initially carried out the search of Malami’s Kebbi residence, has not officially commented on the arms discovery. However, sources within the anti-graft agency confirmed that items suspected to be firearms were recovered and documented during the operation.
In Nigeria, the possession of firearms without proper authorisation is a serious offence, especially at a time when the country is grappling with widespread insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism. Security agencies have been under pressure to clamp down on illegal arms circulation across the country.
The DSS, Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, is responsible for handling matters related to internal security, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering. Its involvement in the Malami case suggests that the investigation has moved beyond financial crimes to issues considered threats to national security.
However, some civil society groups have raised concerns about what they describe as overlapping actions by security agencies, warning that repeated arrests after court-granted bail could erode public confidence in the justice system.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), played a key role in the Buhari administration and was involved in several high-profile legal cases on behalf of the Federal Government. His tenure was not without controversy, as he faced criticism over issues such as the handling of corruption cases and the controversial release of some detained suspects.
Since leaving office, Malami has largely stayed out of the public eye until his recent legal troubles brought him back into national headlines.