Malami Elects to Stay in Prison after Bail Perfection for Fear of Rearrest by DSS
Malami Elects to Stay in Prison after Bail Perfection for Fear of Rearrest by DSS
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has reportedly refused to leave the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja despite fulfilling all court-imposed bail conditions, citing fears of immediate rearrest by operatives of the Department of State Services.
Sources familiar with the situation said Malami believes remaining in custody is safer than stepping out of the facility, where he suspects security agents may take him into fresh detention beyond the supervision of correctional authorities.
His continued stay in the prison is said to be voluntary, as there is no existing court order mandating further detention.
Following the development, Malami’s legal team has reportedly approached the court to seek an ex parte order restraining security agencies, particularly the DSS, from rearresting him upon release.
However, no such protective order has been granted.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Wednesday granted Malami, his wife, and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each.
The court attached strict conditions, including the provision of two sureties per defendant in like sum. The sureties must own landed property in Abuja districts of Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa.
The court also directed that property documents be submitted for verification by the Deputy Chief Registrar and that sureties swear to affidavits of means. In addition, the defendants were ordered to deposit their travel documents with the court and obtain permission before leaving the country. Passport photographs of both defendants and sureties were also required for court records.
Sources say Malami is weighing his next legal steps while remaining in custody over concerns about possible renewed arrest.
