BREAKING: Fear Grips Malami, Refuses To Leave Prison After Fulfilling Bail Conditions
Abubakar Malami, SAN, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has fulfilled all bail conditions imposed by the court, after Justice Emeka Nwite approved his release from custody.
It was gathered that despite meeting the conditions for his freedom, Malami has, however, refused to step out of the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, over fears that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) may immediately rearrest him once he leaves the facility.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the former minister instructed his legal team to urgently approach the court to seek an ex parte order restraining security agencies, particularly the DSS, from taking him into custody upon his release.
It was learnt that no such protective order had been granted by the court, leaving Malami in a situation where his continued stay at the correctional centre is by personal choice rather than any subsisting court order.
A source said the former Attorney General believes remaining in custody is safer than risking an immediate rearrest by security operatives, a move that could trigger fresh detention outside the control of the correctional authorities.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had Wednesday granted Malami, his wife and son bail of ₦500million each, with strict conditions including the submission of landed property documents and travelling papers.
The judge had ruled that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum, and the sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. He added that they must submit their travel documents to the court.
The documents of the properties are to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means. Malami was also ordered to deposit his travel documents with the court and must not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.
The defendants and their sureties were also directed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
