A team of lawyers and loyalists of embattled former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, returned to the Federal High Court on Friday, reportedly seeking Justice Emeke Nwite’s understanding to expedite his exit from Kuje Prison, acording to SaharaReporters report.
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The development comes after a surety, initially involved in Malami’s bail processing, reportedly threatened to withdraw from the arrangement despite the bail having been completed and signed by the judge the previous day, SaharaReporters learnt.
“A group of lawyers and loyalists of Malami returned to the Federal High Court on Friday, seeking the understanding of the judge to facilitate his unceremonious departure from Kuje Prison,” a source privy to the situation told SaharaReporters.
“It is understood that a surety wanted to pull out of the bail processing after it was completed and signed by the judge yesterday.”
It remains unclear what outcome was reached by the close of business on Friday. However, a legal practitioner familiar with the matter said the objective of the visit was to ensure that the former AGF could leave prison with the understanding of the judge and without complications.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Malami had fulfilled all bail conditions imposed by the court, after Justice Nwite approved his release from custody.
Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had last week granted Malami, his wife and son bail of ₦500 million each, with strict conditions including the submission of landed property documents and travelling papers.
The judge had ruled that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum, and the sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. He added that they must submit their travel documents to the court.
The court ordered that the documents of the properties must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties must also to depose to an affidavit of means.
Malami was also ordered to deposit his travel documents with the court and must not travel out of the country without the permission of the court. The defendants and their sureties were also directed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
SaharaReporters reported that despite meeting the conditions for his freedom, Malami, however, refused to step out of the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, over fears that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) might immediately rearrest him once he left the facility.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed to SaharaReporters that the former minister instructed his legal team to urgently approach the court to seek an ex parte order restraining security agencies, particularly the DSS, from taking him into custody upon his release.
It was learnt that no such protective order had been granted by the court, leaving Malami in a situation where his continued stay at the correctional centre was by personal choice rather than any subsisting court order.
A source said the former Attorney General believed that remaining in custody was safer than risking an immediate rearrest by security operatives.
According to reports, Malami is facing a separate and serious probe by the DSS following the discovery of arms at his Kebbi country home.
Meanwhile, EFCC uncovered the arms and ammunition during a search of Malami’s residence. However, because the investigation of illegal arms possession falls outside the EFCC’s statutory mandate, the anti-graft agency reportedly handed over the weapons to the DSS for a comprehensive investigation.
The quantity of arms and ammunition recovered could not be immediately confirmed. However, sources told The Nation that the number was substantial enough to warrant a full-scale DSS investigation.
Earlier on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the EFCC arraigned Malami alongside his wife Asabe, and son Abdulaziz, before Justice Nwite.
The defendants face a 16-count charge of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court had ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to Malami and his two sons. The assets, according to court documents, are valued at ₦213,234,120,000.
The court granted Malami, his sons, or any other interested claimant a 14-day window to appear before it and provide evidence that the assets were lawfully acquired. However, failure to present satisfactory proof within the stipulated period may result in the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
The interim forfeiture order was made pursuant to the invocation of the Non-Conviction Asset Forfeiture provisions contained in the EFCC Establishment Act.
The EFCC had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order to seize the properties located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi. According to the anti-graft agency, they are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
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