Security operatives have re-arrested Abdulaziz, the son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, shortly after arrangements for his bail had been concluded.
The incident occurred on Friday when court bailiffs from the Federal High Court arrived at the prison with fully processed bail documents to secure Abdulaziz’s release.
According to sources, the re-arrest followed a fresh security intervention, even as court bailiffs from the Federal High Court had arrived at the correctional facility with all the required bail documents to effect his release.
The rearrest followed what sources described as renewed security intervention, despite court bailiffs from the Federal High Court arriving at the facility with fully processed bail documents to secure Abdulaziz’s release.
Security officials had reportedly been monitoring movements in and out of the prison based on intelligence reports, and they took Abdulaziz into custody shortly after he was handed over to those facilitating his release.
Abdulaziz, his father, Abubakar Malami and Asabe, Malami’s wife, are standing trial before Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion.
Earlier this month, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured an interim forfeiture order on 57 landed properties linked to Malami.
The properties, valued at N213.23 billion, are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
Some of the forfeited assets were also linked to Malami’s sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami, as well as his wife, Asabe. The forfeiture order was granted less than 12 hours after the Federal High Court approved bail for Malami, his wife and son in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties in like sum, and fixed their trial for February 17. The affected properties include university buildings, agro-allied factories, hotels, pharmacies, supermarkets, schools, filling stations, shops and other commercial buildings.