The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized the international passport of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN.
A credible EFCC source said on Sunday that the seizure was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged $490 million Abacha loot reportedly secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said Malami had been barred from leaving Nigeria for one month.
According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he must report daily to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.
“The former minister may not travel out of the country except with mutual agreement with the EFCC or a High Court order,” the source added.
Malami, however, described the allegations as fabricated, insisting that the truth would soon unfold.
According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister shows that he has several issues to clarify before EFCC investigators in the coming weeks.
“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT. We didn’t say he stole the money, but he should account for it. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators,” the source said.
The commission cited the huge volume of documents to be reviewed and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.
The source added that the EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.
In a post on X, Malami called the allegations fabricated and thanked Allah for divine intervention. He said his engagement with the EFCC was successful and that he was released pending further meetings.
He was silent on the passport seizure but reiterated that the truth about the claims would soon unfold.
