Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday arrested former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in Abuja.
Malami was reportedly taken into custody in front of the Kuje Correctional Centre shortly after visiting the facility. A video circulating on social media shows the former AGF walking towards a DSS vehicle moments after leaving the prison. Before entering the van, he reportedly asked the operatives to present their official identification.
A security source, who confirmed the arrest, said the action followed multiple petitions against Malami relating to alleged terrorism financing.
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“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.
The source added that terrorism and its financing are serious global offences and recalled that during his tenure as AGF, Malami publicly stated that the government would not shield anyone linked to such crimes.
“No responsible government will ignore weighty allegations of terrorism financing, regardless of the individual’s status. In this case, Malami, SAN,” the source noted.
He further explained that inter-agency cooperation is standard procedure in security investigations. “It is not uncommon for one security agency to hand over a suspect to another. The DSS is statutorily responsible for investigating terrorism-related matters. It is best to allow them to do their job,” he said.
