FCT High Court Denies Malami Bail, Upholds EFCC Detention Order

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday refused to grant bail to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, affirming the legality of his continued detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Babangida Hassan held that Malami’s detention was lawful and supported by a valid court order, thereby dismissing the bail application seeking his release from EFCC custody.

The anti-graft agency is investigating the former minister over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.

Malami was invited by the EFCC for questioning on November 28. Following his appearance, reports emerged that his international passport was seized as part of an ongoing probe into the whereabouts of an alleged $490 million Abacha loot recovered through a Mutual Legal Assistance request during the immediate past administration.

The former justice minister remains in EFCC custody as investigations continue.

However, Malami has consistently denied the allegations, describing them as baseless, illogical and completely lacking substance. He maintained that the recovery of the funds in question had already been concluded before he assumed office as Attorney-General in 2015, insisting that a Swiss lawyer, Enrico Monfrini, completed the process.