Malami accuses DSS of plot to re-arrest him after bail
Raises rule of law concerns
By Kunle Sanni –
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of planning to re-arrest him immediately after his release from custody, despite being granted bail by a court of competent jurisdiction.
In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Malami said he had received credible intelligence indicating that operatives of the DSS had mounted surveillance around the Kuje Correctional Centre and were on standby to effect a fresh arrest once he was released.
The allegation comes weeks after a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) granted Malami bail. According to him, the bail order was not honoured, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly failed to effect his release, thereby frustrating the court’s decision.
Malami further alleged that the planned re-arrest would be based on what he described as trumped-up and unrelated charges, a move he claimed was intended to ensure his continued detention.
Describing the development as a grave threat to the rule of law, Malami said the practice of granting bail while preparing fresh arrests amounted to an abuse of state power and a direct affront to judicial authority.
He also warned that his personal safety, as well as that of his family and staff, was under serious threat, adding that any act of intimidation, unlawful detention, or harm would be the responsibility of those involved.
The former Attorney-General reaffirmed his respect for the rule of law and his willingness to submit himself to all lawful judicial processes, stressing that he was only demanding obedience to court orders, fairness, and the protection of his constitutional rights.
Malami called on relevant authorities, the legal community, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor the situation and prevail on all security agencies to act strictly within the confines of the law.
