DSS arrests Malami on terrorism charges hours after money laundering bail release

Former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on January 19, 2026, shortly after securing bail in a money laundering case and release from Kuje Prison. This follows weeks of detention by the EFCC and prior warnings from his team about potential rearrest, amid ongoing legal battles. Part of the 'Abubakar Malami Legal Saga' series.

Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) on January 19, 2026. The arrest occurred immediately after he perfected bail in a money laundering charge and was released from Kuje Prison, where he had been held since December 2025 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The DSS action relates to terrorism allegations, coming amid earlier fears expressed by Malami's team on January 7 about surveillance and plans for rearrest post-bail, which they described as an obstruction of justice. This sequence underscores the intensifying scrutiny on Malami, a key figure from the previous administration.

Details on the terrorism charges remain limited in available reports, but the development highlights persistent legal challenges for high-profile Nigerian politicians and lawyers.

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