Operatives of the Department of State Services on Friday rearrested Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, following what security sources described as an attempt to secretly move him out of custody.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that court bailiffs from the Federal High Court had earlier arrived at the facility with fully processed bail documents to secure Abdulaziz’s release.
However, sources within the prison said the former AGF allegedly insisted that his son be taken out quietly without the standard release procedures.
Security agencies had reportedly placed the correctional centre under heightened surveillance after intelligence reports suggested moves to secure Abdulaziz’s freedom away from public scrutiny.
DSS operatives were said to have profiled vehicles leaving the facility, leading to the interception and rearrest of Abdulaziz shortly after he was handed over to those facilitating his release.
A security source said, “The bailiffs came with valid documents, but Malami reportedly refused the normal process and wanted his son quietly moved out. DSS operatives monitored all movements and rearrested him.”
Another official familiar with the development said the action reflected growing concern within the intelligence community over what was described as “irregular efforts” surrounding the former minister’s handling of his son’s bail.
Abdulaziz, alongside his father and Malami’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, is facing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged N8.7bn fraud and money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC is prosecuting the trio on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.
According to court filings, the anti-graft agency alleged that Malami used fronts and corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd, to launder public funds while in office.
The charges include alleged transactions running into hundreds of millions of naira, as well as the acquisition of high-end properties in Maitama, Jabi, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Kano and Birnin Kebbi.
In late December, Abdulaziz was reportedly rushed to the prison clinic after suddenly falling ill, while in early January, the DSS deployed more than 50 operatives around Kuje Correctional Centre amid security concerns linked to the high-profile case.
Efforts to get official comments from the DSS and the Nigerian Correctional Service were unsuccessful as of press time.
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