SaharaReporters gathered that the secret police are already working to secure a remand order that would allow them to detain Malami beyond the initial period, citing the complexity and scope of the ongoing probe.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is taking steps to obtain a court order to keep former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in custody as investigations into allegations bordering on terrorism financing and related matters continue,
SaharaReporters gathered that the secret police are already working to secure a remand order that would allow them to detain Malami beyond the initial period, citing the complexity and scope of the ongoing probe.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer between 2015 and 2023 under the administration of late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, is reportedly being grilled over his handling of a list of Nigerian terror financiers released by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as other terrorism-related issues during his tenure.
According to a report by PUNCH, a source close to the investigation disclosed that the DSS considers the matter too weighty to be concluded within a short timeframe.
“The investigation is likely going to take a long time. This is why we are working to get a court order on Wednesday (today) to detain him further,” the source said.
“There are several issues he is being questioned on. One of them is the handling of the terrorism financiers list released by the UAE in 2021 and some terror financiers during his term as the AGF. So, this investigation will take a very long time. I am not sure he will be released anytime soon.”
In 2021, authorities in the United Arab Emirates publicly named six Nigerians alleged to have links with the Boko Haram insurgent group as terrorist financiers.
The disclosure followed the UAE Cabinet’s issuance of Resolution No. 83 of 2021, which designated 38 individuals and 15 entities across different countries as persons and organisations involved in supporting Boko Haram and other terrorist causes.
The Nigerians listed by the UAE authorities were; Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.
The publication of the list at the time sparked widespread controversy within Nigeria, with many Nigerians questioning how individuals allegedly linked to terrorism were able to operate within the country and whether Nigerian authorities had acted decisively on intelligence reportedly shared by foreign governments.
Critics also raised concerns about the apparent lack of public prosecutions or convictions following the UAE’s revelations, especially given the scale of Nigeria’s battle against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, during his tenure as Attorney General, Malami had repeatedly assured Nigerians that the government would not protect or shield anyone involved in terrorism or terrorism financing.
He publicly maintained that no matter how highly placed an individual might be, anyone found culpable would be prosecuted strictly in accordance with the law.
Political analysts note that Malami’s case appears to fit into a broader pattern of post-tenure scrutiny of former senior officials who wielded significant power during the Buhari administration.
As AGF and Minister of Justice for eight years, Malami played a central role in several high-profile matters, including asset recovery efforts, prosecution of corruption suspects, and the issuance of controversial legal opinions that frequently generated intense public debate.
Malami is also being questioned over an arms cache allegedly discovered at his residence in Kebbi State, as well as multiple petitions accusing him of terrorism and terrorism financing.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Malami finally surrendered to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) after days of tension over his stalled bail and a security siege at the Kuje Correctional Facility.
SaharaReporters previously exclusively reported that the DSS had maintained a blockade around the prison since Malami was granted bail, preventing his release despite his compliance with bail conditions.
Although legally entitled to freedom, Malami remained confined in Kuje Prison, turning what should have been a routine administrative process into a high-profile standoff.
The situation escalated last Friday when Malami’s son was arrested while allegedly attempting to leave the prison premises amid the clampdown, a move seen as tightening state control rather than easing it.
On Monday, Malami finally surrendered to the DSS, one week after his bail was stalled, and just hours after activist Omoyele Sowore publicly announced plans to visit Kuje Prison to intervene and help secure his release.
In early January, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Kuje Prison was placed under tight security, with more than 50 DSS operatives deployed to strategic positions around the facility.
Sources described the deployment as a preemptive move to ensure Malami, being held at the facility does not escape an investigation into terrorism-related activities, especially after he was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in his N8.7 billion money laundering case.