Malami Released From Custody; Kebbi ADC Confirms Return

Former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami has been released from custody, with the Kebbi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress confirming his return and welcoming him back to the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Habibu Abubakar Sambo, described the development as the end of a difficult period and called on supporters to remain calm and committed to democratic principles.

Malami’s detention followed a series of criminal proceedings that began in December 2025, when he was charged with multiple counts of alleged money laundering involving transactions running into billions of naira. In January 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail in the sum of ₦500 million, subject to strict conditions including the provision of sureties and travel restrictions.

Shortly after meeting those bail conditions and securing release from Kuje Correctional Centre, he was taken into custody again by operatives of the Department of State Services. That rearrest prolonged his detention and introduced a second strand to the legal process surrounding him.

In February, a separate case was initiated, with prosecutors alleging that Malami, during his tenure as Attorney-General, failed to act on intelligence related to terrorism financing. He and his son were subsequently granted bail in that matter under additional conditions imposed by the Federal High Court.

Following news of his release, former presidential candidate Peter Obi visited Malami in Abuja. The meeting, though not publicly detailed, was widely interpreted as a gesture of political solidarity at a time when the prosecution of prominent figures has drawn broader scrutiny.

Malami’s release brings to a close a prolonged period of detention spanning multiple agencies and legal proceedings, though the substantive cases against him remain before the courts.