Malami accuses DSS of obstructing defence in EFCC forfeiture case

Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused state security agencies of obstructing his right to a fair hearing in an ongoing case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Saturday by Mohammed Bello Doka, his Special Assistant on Media, Malami’s office alleged that the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS) took actions that “amounted to a deliberate attempt to frustrate” his legal defence in an interim forfeiture proceeding before the Federal High Court.

According to the statement, after the EFCC secured an order charging Malami, the court granted him bail, with the immediate submission of his international passports listed as a key condition.

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However, the Office claimed the EFCC delayed tendering the travel documents for about one week, prolonging Malami’s stay in custody and stalling execution of the bail order.

Upon completing bail formalities and being released from Kuje Custodial Centre, Malami was reportedly rearrested by DSS operatives and held for 5 days “without access to lawyers or family.”

Access to his legal team was only granted on Friday, the statement continued, describing the circumstances as “grave violations of his fundamental human rights.”

The detention, his media aide argued, came at a crucial moment in the EFCC forfeiture case when Malami was expected to open his defence. The Office insisted that denying him access to counsel during this period impaired his ability to file documents, consult, and issue instructions, thereby weakening his position before the court.

The statement further criticised what it called a “troubling pattern” of arrest before investigation, warning that no agency should undermine judicial bail through rearrests or delayed compliance with court orders.

Malami maintains he is prepared to defend himself “fully in court and in accordance with the law” and urged state institutions to uphold constitutional guarantees and respect the authority of the judiciary.