Security operatives, specifically from the Department of State Services (DSS), have rearrested Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, just after court bailiffs completed procedures for his release on bail.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Friday, when court bailiffs from the Federal High Court arrived at the facility with fully processed bail documents authorizing Abdulaziz’s release. Sources described the rearrest as a renewed security intervention, with operatives who had been monitoring movements in and out of the prison based on intelligence reports taking Abdulaziz into custody shortly after he was handed over to those facilitating his release.
A source said, “He was released to the court bailiffs with fully processed bail papers but was immediately rearrested by security agents.”
Abdulaziz, his father Abubakar Malami, and Malami’s wife Asabe are currently standing trial before Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Truth Live News gathered that the rearrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of the high-profile case. Earlier this month, the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order on 57 landed properties linked to Malami, valued at N213.23 billion and located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. Some of the forfeited assets were also linked to Malami’s sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami, as well as his wife, Asabe.
The forfeiture order was granted less than 12 hours after the Federal High Court approved bail for Malami, his wife, and son in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties in like sum, and fixed their trial for February 17.
The affected properties include university buildings, agro-allied factories, hotels, pharmacies, supermarkets, schools, filling stations, shops, and other commercial buildings.
The reasons for the fresh rearrest have not been officially disclosed, but the development has intensified public interest in the ongoing money laundering trial and related asset forfeiture proceedings.
