The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confiscated the international passport of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, as part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of $490 million recovered from the Abacha loot through Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT).
Malami, who was released at 1am on Saturday, is barred from leaving the country for the next one month. One of the conditions for his release is that he must report to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for further questioning.
According to investigators, Malami has several issues to address regarding the recovered funds.
An EFCC source said, “We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of $490 million Abacha loot secured through Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT). We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.
“Considering the huge volumes of documents he has to go through and the detectives he needs to interact with, we have seized his international passport.
“One of the conditions for his release on bail at 1am on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC headquarters for interaction.
“He cannot travel out of the country except as mutually agreed with EFCC or with the permission of a High Court.
“We won’t join issues with him on his braggadocio but we will release our findings to the public after painstaking investigation.”
Reacting on his X handle, Malami described the allegations against him as fabricated, insisting that the truth would soon be revealed. He did not comment on the seizure of his passport.
He said, “In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for His divine intervention.
“The engagement was successful, and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continues to unfold.”
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