NIGERIA: Malami’s Office Accuses DSS Of Obstructing Legal Defence After Rearrest Following EFCC Bail

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The office of former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami SAN has raised serious concerns over actions by the Department of State Services DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC which it claims are frustrating his right to fair hearing and effective legal representation.

In a press release signed by Special Assistant on Media Mohammed Bello Doka the office stated that after the Federal High Court granted Malami bail in an EFCC case the commission delayed submitting his international passports for about one week delaying the perfection of bail and prolonging his stay in Kuje Custodial Centre.

Once bail was perfected and he was released he was immediately rearrested by the DSS and detained for five days without access to lawyers or family. He was only allowed to meet his legal team on Friday after what the release described as prolonged isolation and violations of fundamental rights.

The detention coincided with a critical period for preparing his defence in an EFCC interim forfeiture proceeding before the Federal High Court.

The office argued that denying access to counsel impaired his ability to consult prepare filings and give instructions calling it a clear frustration of due process. It described the pattern as arrest first followed by investigation and evidence gathering in violation of the rule of law.

The release emphasised that bail granted by courts must be meaningful and urged state agencies to respect judicial orders constitutional guarantees and avoid actions that undermine court authority.

Malami remains committed to defending himself fully in court and called on institutions to uphold the rule of law.

The allegations stem from ongoing probes including money laundering charges by the EFCC and separate DSS investigations reportedly linked to terror financing though specifics were not detailed in the release. Neither the DSS nor EFCC has issued an immediate public response

to these claims.