Malami was arrested in Kuje prison on Monday after meeting bail conditions.
Newsone Nigeria reports that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
This online news platform understands that Malami was arrested at the front of Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Monday, January 19, 2026.
A video circulating online shows the former AGF entering a vehicle that appears to belong to the DSS shortly after leaving Kuje Prison. Before he entered the van, Malami asked the DSS officials to present their identity cards.
Confirming the arrest, a security source told TheCable: “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.
“Terrorism and terrorism financing are serious offences globally. 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 it’s hands or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing levelled 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 to do their job,”
Watch the moment Malami was arrested by DSS below…
BREAKING: DSS re-arrest Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, shortly after leaving Kuje Prison, following the completion of his bail conditions.
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) January 19, 2026
A federal high court in Abuja granted bail to Malami, who is standing trial, alongside his son and wife, over allegations bordering on money laundering, in the sum of N500 million On January 7, 2026.
The presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, also granted bail of N500 million each to his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe.
Each of the defendants were required to produce two sureties in like sum who must own landed property within Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Malami, his son and wife, over allegations bordering on money laundering to the tune of N8,713, 923, 759.49.
In the 16-count charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired to launder proceeds of unlawful activity between 2015 and 2025, using bank accounts and corporate entities to conceal the source and ownership of the fund worth over N8.1 billion.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Subsequently, the court ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties worth N213 billion suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Malami.
