The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confiscated the international passport of Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as part of an ongoing investigation into the handling of $490 million in recovered Abacha loot.
Malami, who was questioned late into Friday night, was released on bail around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday under strict conditions that include reporting to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja daily for the next month.
The anti-graft agency also barred him from travelling outside the country during this period unless expressly permitted by the EFCC or a High Court.
Senior EFCC officials told reporters that the former minister has “many issues to clarify,” particularly regarding the whereabouts of the $490 million repatriated to Nigeria under a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).
“We did not say he stole the money, but he must account for it. This is one of the key issues he will clarify to our investigators”, an EFCC source said.
The source added that the volume of documents and the number of investigators Malami must interact with necessitated the seizure of his travel documents.
“We have seized his international passport because of the huge volumes of documents he has to go through.
“He cannot travel out of the country except as mutually agreed with the EFCC or with the permission of a High Court”, the official said.
The official also dismissed Malami’s public comments as “braggadocio,” insisting the agency would make its findings public after what it described as a “painstaking investigation.”
Read also: Malami confirms EFCC invitation, says he will honour probe
Reacting via his X handle, Malami maintained that the allegations against him were “fabricated,” adding that the truth would soon emerge.
While he confirmed that he had been released after his engagement with investigators, he did not address the seizure of his passport.
“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”, he wrote.
