Why Malami is detained — EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied claims by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), that his bail was revoked over his attendance at a political gathering in Kebbi State.

The EFCC said Malami was granted administrative bail after a brief interrogation on November 28, 2025, pending the conclusion of investigations and possible arraignment in court.

A statement released on Saturday by EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the bail was provisional and subject to five conditions, none of which Malami has met.

Oyewale said: “Administrative bail is a discretionary temporary reprieve that allows a suspect to be released on stated conditions pending conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.

“To this effect, after his brief interrogation on November 28, 2025, Malami was offered provisional bail hinged on five requirements.

“He has neither met any of the requirements nor shown readiness to keep faith with them.”

Oyewale said Malami was scheduled to return for further interrogation on December 1, 2025, but requested a postponement in a letter dated December 4, citing ill-health.

He said the commission granted the request despite the fact that the bail conditions had not been fulfilled.

He said: “He was due back for further interrogation on December 1, 2025, but in a curious twist, the former Minister pleaded with his investigators through a letter written to the Commission on December 4, 2025, to allow him to attend to his ‘ill-health’.

“The Commission compassionately granted his plea even while his bail conditions had not been met.”

The anti-graft agency stated that the former minister neither provided a medical report nor credible proof of ill-health to support his request, adding that his reporting date was deferred from December 1 to December 4 to accommodate the request.

According to the EFCC’s spokesman, Malami was invited again on December 8, 2025 for further interrogation and was detained pending compliance with the outstanding bail conditions.

He said: “He was initially required to commence reporting for further investigations on December 1, 2025, but this had to be deferred to December 4, 2025, largely owing to his ‘Request for an Adjournment on Grounds of Ill- Health’.

“He neither provided a medical report nor credible proof of ill-health to the Commission

“The EFCC cannot allow the latitude granted the former Minister on his health stand in the way of investigations.

“On this score, he was invited again on December 8, 2025, for further interrogation and detained until the pending bail conditions are met.”

Oyewale described as false Malami’s claim that his bail was revoked and dismissed allegations that he was barred from granting media interviews or participating in political activities.

He said: “Evidently, the former minister’s claims of revocation of bail by the EFCC are untenable.

“It is equally ridiculous to insinuate that the Commission barred him ‘from granting media interviews and from participating in political activities in Kebbi State’.

“Such bogus claims from a former chief law officer of the nation are strange, as the EFCC has no interest in the political affiliation of its suspects.”

The EFCC advised the former minister to comply with the bail conditions he acknowledged and signed on November 28, 2025, and to cooperate with investigators.

Malami has been in detention since Monday after failing to meet the bail conditions set by the anti-graft agency.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Saturday accused the EFCC of playing politics with the revocation of the bail earlier granted to the former Attorney-General of the Federation.