, over alleged terror financing following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his Kebbi residence.){kind=link}
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), over alleged terror financing following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Malami was taken into custody on Tuesday for questioning amid allegations that he was working in concert with vested interests outside Nigeria to destabilise the country.
Security sources disclosed that a former minister, alleged to be collaborating with Malami, has been placed on a watch list. The unnamed former minister is said to have established a base abroad from where terror-related activities against Nigeria were allegedly coordinated.
Investigations revealed that Malami was arrested outside the Kuje Correctional Service in Abuja shortly after perfecting his bail conditions in an ongoing economic and financial crimes case. The former minister is currently standing trial before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N8 billion fraud.
Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 7 granted Malami, his son, and other defendants bail in the case.
The SOCIETYGIST had exclusively reported on January 12 that the DSS was poised to arrest the former justice minister following the discovery of arms and ammunition at his residence by EFCC operatives during a search connected to the financial crime investigation.
According to sources, the EFCC handed over the recovered arms to the DSS, which is statutorily responsible for investigating allegations bordering on terrorism and terror financing. It was further gathered that DSS operatives had monitored Malami’s movements around the Kuje prison area for nearly two weeks before effecting his arrest.
Confirming the development, a security source said, “Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Malami. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing. Terrorism and its financing are grave offences globally.”
The source recalled that during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General, he consistently maintained that the government would not shield any individual linked to terrorism or its financing.
“No responsible government would ignore serious allegations of terrorism financing against any individual, regardless of status,” the source added.
He further explained that inter-agency collaboration led to Malami’s arrest, noting that it is common practice for security agencies to transfer suspects to sister agencies with the appropriate mandate.
“In Nigeria, the DSS is the sole agency empowered to investigate terrorism-related allegations. It is best to allow them to carry out their duties,” he said.
Another senior intelligence source disclosed that security agencies are also seeking to interrogate the former minister allegedly collaborating with Malami. However, the source said the individual has refused to return to Nigeria from his foreign base.
“If he remains adamant, the Federal Government may initiate steps for his repatriation after obtaining the necessary court approvals,” the source said, adding that the country where the former minister is based “does not tolerate terrorism.”
Malami remains in DSS custody as investigations continue.
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