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DSS arraigns Malami, son on charges of terrorism, illegal possession of firearms

• Trial begins Feb 20

The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge of terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

It was another significant courtroom moment as one of Nigeria’s most powerful former law officers stood in the dock.

Father and son were arraigned on a five-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026.

Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were allegedly forwarded to him while he served as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Both Malami and his son are further accused of unlawfully warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

According to court documents, Malami is charged in count one with knowingly abetting terrorism financing.

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In counts two to five, the former AGF and his son are accused of unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of cartridges and twenty-seven expended Redstar AAA 5.20 cartridges.

The alleged offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.

Malami and Abdulaziz pleaded not guilty when the counts were read to them.

Prosecuting counsel, Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the DSS and fix a date for the commencement of trial.

Defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwan (SAN), made an oral bail application, arguing that the defendants had already been held in DSS custody for over two weeks.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the oral bail application, noting that the Federal High Court is a court of record and that bail applications must be formally filed.

She consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the matter till February 20 for the commencement of the trial.

The counts in the charge read, in part:

•            That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adult, male, sometime in November 2022 at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to your office as Attorney-General of the Federation for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

•            That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in conduct preparatory to committing an act of terrorism by having in your possession, without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of cartridges and twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5.20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

•            That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, sometime in December 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, had in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.

•            That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, without licence, had in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5.20 live rounds of cartridges, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.

•            That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, without licence, had in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5.20 cartridges, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the same Act.

February 4, 2026
JUST IN: DSS arraigns ex-AGF Malami, son on terrorism charges, illegal possession of firearms
- …court remands them in DSS custody
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS, in a court document, said Malami is charge, in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

Malami and Abdulaziz pleaded not guilty when the counts in the charge sheet were read to them.

Shortly after they pleaded to the charge, the prosecuting lawyer, Calistus Eze, prayed the court to order their remand in the custody of the DSS and fix a date for the commencement of the trial.

Responding, defense lawyer, Shuaibu Aruwan (SAN) applied orally for bail for the defendants, arguing that the defendants have been in DSS’ custody for over two weeks.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the oral bail application, noting that her court is a court of record, and ordered the defence to file a formal application for bail.

She ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS and adjourned till February 20 for the commencement of the trial.

Counts in the charge read:

*That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, male, sometime in November 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose casefiles were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Read Also: Malami urges court to reverse interim property forfeiture order

*Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II, Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your res:dence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5°20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

*That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without a licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

*That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act. COUNT FIVE

That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
February 3, 2026
Malami urges court to reverse interim property forfeiture order

…gives details of his earnings

An ex-Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to reverse its order issued on January 6 for the interim forfeiture of some of his property.

Malami, in a motion filed by his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) also gave details of his earnings while in office.

In the motion, Malami is seeking the release of three of the 57 property affected by the order issued by Justice Emeka Nwite upon a motion ex-parte for interim forfeiture filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He is praying for two reliefs:

*An order of this honourable court vacating, setting aside and/or discharging the interim order(s) of this honourable court made on the 6th of January, 2026 against the respondent/applicant’s (Malami’s) properties listed as Nos. 9, 18, and 48 in the schedule of properties attached to the interim order of forfeiture of 6th January, 2026, the said properties having been duly declared in the respondent/applicant’s asset declaration forms throughout his tenure as a public officer and No. 48 is held in trust for the Estate of Late Khadi Malami Nassarawa.

*An order of this honourable court restraining the applicant/respondent (EFCC), acting by itself or through its servants, agents and proxies from interfering with the respondent/applicant’s (Malami’s) properties in issue or disturbing the respondent/applicant’s ownership, possession and control thereof in the course of purportedly giving effect to the order of this honourable court made on the 6th of January, 2026.”

The three property being claimed by Malami include Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa, GRA, Kano, purchased in July 31, 2019.

The others are: a Bedroom Duplex and Boys Quarters at No.12, Yalinga Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse Il, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 at N150million, and ADC Kadi Malami Foundation Building, bought at N56million listed as No. 18 and No. 48 in the schedule of property submitted to the court by the EFCC.

Malami argued that the property listed as numbers: Nine, 18 and 48, the subject of the interim forfeiture, especially those declared in his various asset declaration forms are not linked by prima facie evidence of an unlawful activity or a specific offence.

The ex-AGF stated that he declared the assets listed as numbers nine and 18 in his asset declaration forms filed with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in 2019 and 2023 respectively.

He said property marked as number 48 is held in trust by him for the benefit of the estate of his late father, Late Kadi Malami.

Malami added: “These assets, their value and their root of title have been clearly stated and specifically demonstrated in the various asset declaration forms spanning from 2019 to 2023.

“The declaration above is prima facie evidence of the legitimacy of the acquisition and ownership of the properties,” he said.

Malami stated that he copiously declared his earnings in his asset declaration form filed with the CCB to include: N374, 630,900 million income from salaries, estacodes, severance allowance and others;

“Sitting allowances as a board/committee member of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, Federal Capital Territory Judicial Service Commission, Legal Practitioner Privileges Committee, and a high-powered presidential committee.

“N574, 073, 000 (Five hundred and seventy-four million, and seventy three thousand naira) as Income generated through disposed assets

“N10, 017,382,684 (Ten billion, seventeen million, three hundred and eighty-two thousand, six hundred and eighty-four thousand naira) turnover from businesses.

“N2, 522, 000, 000 (Two billion, five hundred and twenty-two million naira) being loans to businesses

“N958,000,000 (Nine hundred and fifty-eight million naira) as a traditional gift from personal friends.”

Malami also stated that a total sum of N509,880,000 (Five hundred and nine million, eight hundred and eighty thousand naira) was realised as income from the launch and public presentation of a book titled, “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice, Thorny Terrains in Traversing the Nigerian Justice Sector: My Travails and Triumphs” by Malami.

Read Also: Hearing stalled in EFCC’s suit seeking Malami’s assets forfeiture

“These streams of income, and the continuing profits generated from the businesses over the years, sufficiently show that the properties sought to be forfeited were acquired through legitimate and lawful means as stated in the asset declaration forms,” he said.

According to him, the order of interim forfeiture is not based on any prima facie establishment of unlawful purpose and is liable to be set aside.

He argued that the court wrongly granted the order of interim forfeiture against these property “which were lawfully acquired post appointment of the respondent/applicant and declared with the Code of Conduct Bureau as legitimate assets of the respondent/applicant, in compliance with the 5th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 2019 and 2023.

“The interim order was obtained ex-parte by suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.

“The interim order for forfeiture was obtained by manifest exaggeration, malicious inflation of the value of the assets, and unreasonable and incompetent valuation deliberately manipulated to mislead the court, negatively affecting its discretion in granting an order based on manipulated facts and conclusions deliberately cooked up by the applicant/respondent (EFCC).

“That there is no prima facie evidence placed before this honourable court by the applicant/respondent (EFCC) to warrant the properties linked to the respondent/applicant (Malami) to be liable for forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The proper remedy for preventing conflicting outcomes duplicative litigation is for this honourable court to dismiss or strike out this suit.

“That this proceeding is an assault on the applicant’s fundamental right to property, his presumption of innocence and his right to live in peace with his family,” Malami said.

February 2, 2026
Hearing stalled in EFCC’s suit seeking Malami’s assets forfeiture

The planned hearing of a suit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed for the forfeiture of 57 properties linked to a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, was stalled yesterday before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

On January 6, Justice Emeka Nwite had issued an order for the interim forfeiture of the landed property said to be located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.

Justice Nwite had granted the order while ruling on an ex parte motion by the EFCC, which was moved by its lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).

In the ruling, Justice Nwite also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily for any person(s) or body (ies) who might have an interest in the property to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government should not be made.

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The judge had adjourned till yesterday for the EFCC to report compliance, but the case was not listed on the court’s cause list for yesterday.

At the commencement of the court’s sitting yesterday, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who led a team of lawyers for the EFCC, told the court that the case was adjourned till yesterday to enable the EFCC to report compliance with the earlier court orders.

Okutepa said when he enquired from the court’s registrar why the case was not listed, he was told it was a vacation case.

The counsel urged the court to hear the case since it was listed for hearing yesterday.

Justice Nwite told Okutepa that it is the court’s tradition to return to the Chief Judge all cases heard during the court’s vacation at the end of the vacation period for the CJ to reassign such cases.

The judge added: “I think you will have to pursue this administratively so that you can bring this (case) to his (CJ’s) notice to fast-track the process.”

He said the EFCC would be informed when the CJ reassigns the case to his court.

January 28, 2026
Hearing stalled on EFCC’s suit seeking Malami’s property’s forfeiture

The planned hearing of a suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the forfeiture of 57 properties linked to a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, was stalled on Tuesday before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 6 issued an order for the interim forfeiture of the landed property said to be located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.

Justice Nwite had granted the order while ruling on an ex parte motion by the EFCC, which was moved by its lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN)

In the ruling, Justice Nwite also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily for any person(s) or body (ies) who might have an interest in the property to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government should not be made.

He then adjourned till January 27 for the EFCC to report compliance.

The case was not listed on the court’s cause list on Tuesday.

At the commencement of the court’s sitting on Tuesday, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who led a team of lawyers for the EFCC, told the court that the case was adjourned to January 27 for the EFCC to report compliance with the orders made earlier.

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Okutepa said when he enquired from the court’s registrar why the case was not listed, he was told it was a vacation case.

He urged the court to hear the case since it was fixed for Tuesday.

Justice Nwite, however, told Okutepa that it is the court’s tradition to return to the Chief Judge all cases heard during the court’s vacation at the end of the vacation period for the Chief Judge to reassign such cases.

The judge added, “I think you will have to pursue this administratively so that you can bring this (the case) to his (CJ’s) notice to fast-track the process.”

He said the EFCC would be informed if the case is reassigned to his court by the Chief Judge.

January 27, 2026
‘War Against Corruption’: Former Malami’s associate vows tell-all book

Former close associate of ex- Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, has vowed to unveil a tell-all book that gives detailed insights into how the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-corruption agenda was implemented under intense intrigues.

According to Obla, the book, which he is co-authoring with another lawyer, aims for public presentation in April this year, will include details of how he was handicapped in the course of duty, hounded and made to face threats to his life.

Obla, who was Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SIPRPP), was suspended and later removed from the position by Malami for allegedly ‘acting beyond his mandate,’ told The Nation on Sunday that he and the Secretary, Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, have co-authored a groundbreaking book entitled: ‘An Analysis of Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Laws – How We Survived the Menace Named Malami.’

“It will also focus on a detailed analysis of the provisions and implementation of various anti-corruption laws, including the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 (ICPC Act); the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45 LFN 2004; the Immigration Act, 2015; and the National Security Agencies Act, Cap. N74 LFN 2004; as they relate to fighting economic and financial crimes, corruption, money laundering, and terrorism financing in Nigeria,” he added.

Both authors served in different capacities during the tenure of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

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They were also staff members of the special presidential panel on anti-corruption established under the Recovery of Public Properties Act, 1984.

Significantly, both men played key roles in the early stages of Nigeria’s efforts to recover $370,000,000 of the Abacha loot from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Island of Jersey, United Kingdom, in 2018.

Drawing on their collective first-hand experiences, the authors are aiming to provide documentary evidence of how Malami allegedly frustrated such recovery efforts and even re-looted portions of the Abacha funds.

They are also aiming to present, in detail, disingenuous methods such as the payment of percentages of the recovered loot—disguised as professional fees to private lawyers—who in turn allegedly paid kickbacks.

Obla further stated that the foreword is written by former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), while a commendation is provided by Hon. Prince Akiolu, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.

“The book also offers an in-depth analysis and commentary on Nigeria’s key anti-corruption laws, including: the Money Laundering Act, 2022, Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, Proceeds of Crime (Management) Act, 2021, and the Witness Protection and Management Act, 2022 (Whistle-Blower’s Law) the book will be unveiled in the second week of April 2026,” Obla stated.

January 24, 2026
DSS detains Malami on alleged terrorism financing

A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday, shortly after his release from Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, The Nation gathered.

This comes after Malami completed his bail conditions in connection with an ongoing case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Nation learnt that the DSS arrest is reportedly linked to allegations of terrorism financing and the discovery of arms and ammunition at Malami’s country home in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

The EFCC had uncovered the arms during a search of his residence as part of their financial crime probe, and since the illegal possession of firearms falls outside the EFCC’s mandate, the agency handed the matter over to the DSS for comprehensive investigation.

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Malami is facing a 16-count charge from the EFCC related to alleged money laundering involving over N8 billion.

The charges implicate him, his wife Asabe Bashir, and son Abdulaziz Malami in the use of companies to allegedly acquire numerous properties across states.A security source confirmed Malami’s arrest.

The source said: “Yes, it is true that DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Malami, SAN. There are several petitions against him bordering on alleged terrorism financing.

“Terrorism and terrorism financing are serious offences globally. You’ll recall that when Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, he vowed that the government of the day would not shield any person or persons linked to terrorism or terrorism financing.”

“No responsible government would, in the same vein, fold it’s hands or turn a blind eye to weighty allegations of terrorism financing leveled against against any individual, no matter how highly placed. In this case, Malami, SAN.

“In the course of investigations, we have what is called inter-agency cooperation. It is not uncommon for one security agency to hand over a person under investigation to another sister security agency. In “Nigeria, the DSS is the sole security agency tasked which the responsibility of investigating such allegations. It’ll be best to allow them do their job.”

January 20, 2026
Malami and a society waiting to be rescued

“To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.” — G. Edward Griffin

The media, since December of last year, has been in a reporting frenzy over a systemic monumental sleaze involving the federation’s immediate past number one legal officer. Abubakar Malami, SAN, while serving as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, had no foreboding that an agency that is once under his control in the Justice Ministry, the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will one day confidently invite, detain and arraign him, his wife and son, in a court of law over alleged corruption committed while in office.

But today, it has happened to him, hitting him like a thunderbolt. Reflectively, such self-inflicting happenstance can never be ruled out in the lives of those currently serving in different positions across the country after leaving office. The remedy is for them to strive to overcome official financial misconduct.

Through a court order, EFCC has secured a temporary forfeiture of 57 properties worth N212.8billion said to belong to Malami, his wife, and son. This is perhaps the biggest corruption case, so far from a single family of a former or serving public office holder under this democratic dispensation. And this leaves much to be desired about how fast the once cherished family values in our communal lives are fast eroding from our society. This singular incident of privileged human insatiable greed involving Malami and family, with other laughable unresolved corruption cases pointedly indicates why the country, in the midst of God-given resource-endowment, may forever be struggling for real greatness by remaining avoidably poor.

From being an unknown/unrated corporate lawyer/attorney in 2015, Malami, by sheer providential luck of being appointed by demised President Mohammadu Buhari, had magically, in eight years of two terms of that epoch (November 2015-May 2023), reportedly amassed stupendously huge unexplained wealth to the admiration of a largely morally bankrupt society and to the chagrin of few right thinking Nigerians.

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Malami now faces EFCC’s 16-count charge, including an infraction of Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended and punishable under Section 15(3). Alongside his wife, Bashir Asabe; son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, allegedly used Rahamaniyya Properties and Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder about ₦9 billion with which they bought thirty choice houses littered across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and other states. The houses are believed to have a current street value of N212.8billion. All the houses were believed to have been clinically acquired during his eight years of serving in the government of the late President Buhari.

Malami and family, after meeting bail conditions stipulated by the judge, returned to Kebbi, his home state, where a shameful spectacle occurred. They insensitively rode in a chartered private jet to a waiting crowd of jubilating relatives and supporters. This shameful display involving key suspects in a N212.8 billion money laundering case sadly underscores how low our contemporary but mostly depraved communities have sunk.

This perhaps explains why the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index graciously ranked the country 140th out of 180 countries. In a total corruption rating score of 100, the country scored a paltry 26 marks, far below the global average pass score of 43. This result, reflects a dip from the position of 136th out of 174 captured most-corrupt-countries in 2014.

What the Malami and family’s alleged corruption infamy tells us is that our society as a collective is fast becoming abysmally irredeemable from the firm grip of corruption. Illegal dipping of hands in public tills has sadly become a norm rather than an exception. Becoming the order of the day are: Inflated project costs by government officials in tandem with contractor allies, outrageous commissions on negotiations done on behalf of the government, setting aside of brilliant policy initiatives except such allow for personal aggrandizement, and a shoddy handling of anything government works to give room for pursuits of filthy lucre, amongst others.

This is why at this point in the nation’s most recent history, the country’s immediate-past number one legal officer, wife, and son, without being known for having hitherto engaged in any identifiable industry or productive engagements/venture can allegedly amass such stupendous wealth and properties. No wonder that the family system as a veritable foundation of societal values have overtime been destroyed by especially governmental kleptocrats.

Malami at one time sadly sat over a ministry that wrote and approved legal opinions relied upon in the prosecutions of criminals when he himself is entrapped in questionable ‘mens rea.’ It won’t be hyperbolic to state that this probably symbolized amongst the privileged class in the country, a syndrome that has haughtily affirmed corruption as having assumed a toga of crime without conscience – with no serious consequential repercussions – once the right bargain is struck.

Perturbingly, our society has been routinely celebrating unrestrained individualism over our communal good and well-being. Several looting of public treasury by individuals in government, running into trillions of Naira have continued unabated with several others waiting for their opportunity. The Emefiele Central Bank scandal is fast fizzling from public consciousness. Diezani Allison-Maduekwe is also fast becoming history. The case of the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris who was accused of stealing tens of billions of Naira may never be revisited again. The Abdul-Rasheed Maina pension fund stealing scandal has equally become history. The subsidy thieves are busy enjoying looted trillions of Naira in their various communities while other Nigerians are now paying the price of government’s ineptitude in handling its oil operations. Of major concerns here is how to resolve or tackle this moral question of celebrating intellectual corruption that gives the elites in government especially, the myth of unchallenged privilege.

There is class culpability in what we have accused Malami of. This is because very few families of politically exposed persons can be exonerated from the Malami corruption malady because it is something that is routinely practiced while our poverty-stricken populace, as spectators, pitifully hail such disgusting acts of odious criminality. If truly the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, are effectively watchful of elites in government, Malami could not have brazenly committed these alleged crimes, notwithstanding his being in power at the time.

These three societal institutional watchdogs looking the other way, can only give a false sense of temporary invincibility to those currently serving in government and their families that they can do anything and go scot-free for as long as they remain in power. Someone needs to remind them that whatever protection they enjoy now by virtue of being in power is temporary. Recent history has shown that the long arm of justice, even though grinds slowly, will eventually catch-up with such people at the end of their tenure.

Another peril against cleansing our societies of the filth of corruption is always the reappearance of publicly known looters of public tills in successive governments. Examples of powerful public till robbers that meandered their ways back to appointive/elective positions litter the entire political landscapes. Ayn Rand’s inimitable words gave an insight into the consequences of unrestrained looting in any country with his graphic description of a doomed society to be one in which “corruption is being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice.”

Our society needs redemption from the pangs of avoidable official sleaze committed by mindlessly avaricious past and present government officials that have ascribed law to a cobweb that holds only the weak while the strong/mighty effortlessly passes through, unruffled. Most Nigerians believe that Malami, despite the alleged corruption charges hanging on his neck, might soon be forgiven and told to sin no more. They sarcastically say, this is Nigeria where anything goes, after all.

Something urgent has to be done about official corruption because of its destructive influence on the country’s general wellbeing. Noam Chomsky succinctly captures the malady’s rapaciously debilitating effect when he declared: “Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.” Our societal foundations are being destroyed by the corruption cankerworms.

To save our society from the hundreds of corrupt public officers and families lurking around the corridors of power and tormenting our forward-movement at the various levels in this federation, I beckon on all, including especially the traditional rulers as royal fathers to kindly act as patriots by rejecting public till robbers in our communities. Our royal fathers as traditional leaders of our communities must henceforth start denying such pen-rogues of prime chieftaincy title recognitions to restore community integrity and sanctity. We owe ourselves the task of ensuring that condemnable acts of stealing in government stands exposed, anytime and anywhere.

January 17, 2026
Malami and yesterday’s men of power
- By Mike Kebonkwu
Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a privileged person by all Nigeria’s standards. He hails from Kebbi State, and not much is known about his family background to belong to aristocratic oligarchy of the North. He belongs to the noble profession of lawyers; Not only that, he also belongs to the privileged class of lawyers with a swagger. He is a member of the inner bar; crème la crème of the legal profession and the dream and envy of every lawyer. He was a minister and Attorney-General of the Federation for eight solid years under late president, Muhammadu Buhari. Before this time, he was relatively obscure in his small practice.

He was reputed to be part of the cabal in President Buhari’s government. He was as perverse as he was obdurate. His words almost became law and he used the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice typically “the Nigerian way”.

The judiciary and Ministry of Justice has not recovered from his superintendence for the mockery of the rule of law and flagrant disobedience of court orders. Under his watch, political power became synonymous with the interpretation of the rule of law. He is not imbued with the aesthetics of the language of the law; almost bland and vacuous. He justified the extra ordinary rendition and abduction of the fugitive separatist and IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) leader, Mazi Nnandu Kanu from Kenya. He brought the scintillating career of Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen (GCON), the erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria to a ruinous and humiliating end unceremoniously in what was clear persecution and travesty of justice. Nobody saw anything wrong with it, and our “one-thousand-and-one” Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) rights activists, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) did not see it as a just fight to take up. Nigerians did not protest the erosion of the rule of law and the budding tyranny of the regime at the time for both fear and pecuniary consideration.

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Abubakar Malami did not see tomorrow! He was reputed to have supervised the perfidious payment of $496 million to Global Steel Holdings Ltd (GSHL) as settlement for the termination of the Ajaokuta Steel concession years after the Indian company had waived all claims for compensation; there was no whimper. He was also fingered in sale of assets worth billions of Naira forfeited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by politically exposed persons. He was equally fingered in the $419 million judgment debt awarded to consultants who claimed to have facilitated the Paris Club refund to states. He was also reputed to be the mastermind in the strange agreement to pay Sunrise Power $200 million compensation in its dispute with the federal government over the Mambilla Power Project. He was the anchor in the duplicated legal fees in the transfer of $321 million Abacha loot from Switzerland to Nigeria that was re-looted.

He packaged the controversial pardon of former governors of Plateau and Taraba states, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame respectively convicted for corruption and abuse of office, thereby making mockery of the whole fight against corruption in Nigeria. The trend has continued anyway; sanitize criminals and release them from prison.

Now, the time of reckoning has come, like all the yesterday’s men of power, Malami is screaming political persecution. In any case, one is not too sure when he left his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) if he has. He should save us the refrain that the investigation and trial are politically motivated. He should talk like a very experienced lawyer that he is, a senior one at that. He should go and clear his name in court and the temple of justice. He should present facts, figures and evidence in defence of the charges.

Today, he is now a special guest of honour to the same Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which himself deployed effectively to deal with perceived opponent, for money laundering and mindboggling heist with members of his family. He it was that planted a young inexperienced minion to head the agency to suit his whims and intuition. Now he has started singing like canary that his investigation is politically motivated. Abubakar Malami deserves justice, and Nigeria deserves justice. It will sound foul in his mouth to talk about selective justice; every dog has his day. It is the prerogative of the state who to investigate and brought to trial and when. At the appropriate time, others who are still savouring immunity in the National Assembly will come and give account to Nigerians. Their dossiers are safe and secured in the strong room of the security agencies. That will be the next stage of campaign to save Nigeria and to end impunity and massive looting of the treasury.

It was reported that Malami’s son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami collapsed at the Kuje Correctional Centre and was rushed to the clinic at the facility. Poor boy! That is the prize of being born into affluence. He is a very strong young man indeed to control the sort of wealth entrusted into his care at his age and he is still standing.

Our value system has changed; we celebrate thieves, crooks and criminals. We confer chieftaincy titles on billionaires without credible means of livelihood. Communities organize reception for local tyrants that subvert the will of the people and convert entire state to their political structure. They buy ballots to become honourables in both the state and national assemblies just to legitimize their ill-gotten wealth. They have prayer warriors who intercede for them. The Mullahs and Pastors fast and pray for them because they cannot stay without food and exotic drinks.

Malami’s anger may have been that if the revelations of the loot of other people are made known and open, his own may pale into insignificance. At last, the same judiciary that he deployed recklessly and maliciously is the institution he is embracing for justice; what indeed goes around comes around, justice for Malami!

•Kebonkwu Esq is an Abuja-based attorney. He writes via mikekebonkwu@yahoo.com
January 14, 2026
Alleged arms discovery: Malami faces DSS probe
- Olukoyede: I inherited investigation into ex-AGF tenure
Immediate-Past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), is facing a fresh investigation over the arms and ammunition found in his house.

The Nation learnt that the arms were uncovered at his Kebbi country home by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a search.

The anti-graft agency, it was further learnt, handed them over to the Department of State Service (DSS) for a comprehensive probe because it is not within its remit to do so.

The number of arms and ammunition could not be immediately ascertained, but it was gathered that they are high in number to attract a full DSS investigation.

Malami, who was granted bail last week along with his sons – Abdulaziz, Abiru-Rahman, and others – is still in the Kuje correctional centre, having been unable to perfect his bail conditions.

But, sources said he might be taking things slowly to stall the DSS investigation into the weapons found in his house.

“The former minister is being separately investigated for allegedly having arms in his house in Birnin Kebbi. The inventory of the shock find has been handed over to the DSS.

“It is now left to Malami to explain to the DSS how he came about the arms. That’s why he is yet to perfect his bail conditions. He is holed up in prison to avoid arrest by the DSS.

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“DSS operatives are within the precincts of Kuje Correctional Service to invite Malami. He got wind of their presence and raised the alarm. But the law must take its course.”

Another source within the EFCC said Malami had yet to meet his bail conditions.

“By our records, the ex-AGF is still in custody. We saw all manners of fake clips on social media on his purported arrival and rousing reception in Kebbi State,” the source said.

The source added: “The investigation into Malami’s activities during his tenure began when former EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu was in office.

“Investigation continued through the administration of another Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Chukkol, to the present Executive Chairman. Chukkol, who works in the agency, was in charge briefly before Olukoyede’s appointment.

“There is nothing vindictive about his investigation since 2019. It is an inherited case, and the ex-AGF knows this.”

Olukoyede confirmed that he inherited the Malami case during an interview last night on a national television.

A Federal High Court in Abuja last week ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 assets linked to Malami and his two sons.

The assets have been valued at N213, 234,120,000.

The court has, however, given Malami and the sons or any other claimant a 14-day leave to show proof that the assets were legally acquired.

Failure to present legitimate claims within 14 days may lead to the permanent loss of the assets to the Federal Government.

The court’s order was based on the invocation of the Non-Conviction Asset Forfeiture Clause in the EFCC Establishment Act.

The EFCC had applied to the Federal High Court to seize the suspicious properties in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Birnin-Kebbi.
January 12, 2026