Former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) is facing a fresh security investigation after arms and ammunition were discovered at his residence in Kebbi State.
According to a report published on Monday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered the weapons during a search of Malami’s country home in Birnin Kebbi. The EFCC later handed the items to the Department of State Services for further investigation, citing limits to its mandate on firearms matters.
Sources said the quantity of arms could not be independently verified but was significant enough to warrant a full DSS probe.
The development comes days after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and his son Abdulaziz bail of ₦500m each with two sureties in an ongoing fraud case. Malami and his sons, however, remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre after failing to meet the bail conditions.
Officials familiar with the matter said the former minister may be delaying the perfection of his bail to avoid immediate questioning by the DSS over the weapons found at his home.
“The inventory of the arms has been handed over to the DSS. Malami will be required to explain how he came about them,” a source said. “DSS operatives are already within the Kuje facility to invite him.”
Another EFCC source dismissed claims that Malami had been released, describing reports of his return to Kebbi as false. The source said the investigation into Malami dates back to 2019 and has continued through successive EFCC leaderships.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede has also confirmed that the case was inherited and not politically motivated.
Last week, a Federal High Court ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets linked to Malami and his two sons, valued at about ₦213.2bn. The court gave the former minister 14 days to prove the assets were lawfully acquired or risk permanent forfeiture under the non-conviction asset forfeiture provisions of the EFCC Act.
