The EFCC has confiscated the international passport of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, as part of its ongoing investigation into the whereabouts and administration of a recovered $490 million linked to the Abacha loot.
Malami was reportedly released on bail early Saturday morning but under strict conditions that require him to report daily to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation over the next month. During this period he is barred from leaving Nigeria without explicit permission from the EFCC or a High Court.
An EFCC official said the travel ban and passport seizure were necessary because of “the huge volume of documents” Malami must review and the number of investigators involved — making it crucial to prevent any potential disruption to the inquiry.
The Commission clarified that it is not accusing Malami of theft at this stage but is demanding a full accounting for the recovered funds. “We did not say he stole the money, but he must account for it,” the source said.
Malami, for his part, has described the allegations as “fabricated,” and maintained that he remains ready to cooperate fully with the investigation. In a post on his X account he said the engagement with the EFCC was successful and that the truth about the claims “will soon unfold.”
As the probe continues, the public awaits EFCC’s final findings which will determine whether any wrongdoing occurred, and potentially shape conversations around accountability in the handling of recovered assets.
