Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The arrest took place on Monday at the entrance of the correctional facility.
A video making the rounds on social media shows Mr Malami being escorted into a vehicle said to belong to the DSS moments after leaving the prison premises.
Before entering the vehicle, the former minister was seen requesting identification from the security operatives.
A security source confirmed the development, saying the arrest followed several petitions against Mr Malami over allegations bordering on terrorism financing.
According to the source, allegations of terrorism and its financing are grave offences that require thorough investigation, noting that the DSS is the agency constitutionally empowered to handle such matters.
The source added that inter-agency cooperation among security outfits is a normal practice, especially in cases involving serious national security concerns.
It will be recalled that on January 7, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted Mr Malami bail in the sum of five hundred million naira.
The court also granted similar bail conditions to his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Asabe Bashir, who are standing trial alongside him.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered each of the defendants to provide two sureties with landed property in highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory, including Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Mr Malami, his wife and son on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving over eight billion naira.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants laundered proceeds of unlawful activities between 2015 and 2025 through various bank accounts and corporate entities.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court had also ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at over two hundred billion naira, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to the former minister.
Meanwhile, Mr Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Doka, had earlier alleged that DSS operatives mounted surveillance around the Kuje Correctional Centre with plans to re-arrest the former Attorney-General upon his release.
There have also been reports alleging the discovery of arms at Mr Malami’s residence, though official details are yet to be made public.
The DSS is yet to issue an official statement on the latest arrest.