The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized the international passport of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, as part of an investigation into the whereabouts of $490 million recovered as Abacha loot.
Spear News reports that the anti-graft agency is demanding that Malami provide a detailed account for the funds, which were secured through Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT).
As a condition of his release on bail in the early hours of Saturday, Malami is required to report daily to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for further interactions.
This reporting condition effectively restricts his ability to travel outside the country for the next month, unless expressly permitted by the EFCC or a court order, according report from The Nation Newspaper.
“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of $490 million Abacha loot secured through Mutual Legal Assistance. We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. 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,” an EFCC source told The Nation Newspaper
The commission also indicated that it would not engage in a public dispute with the former minister, promising instead to release its findings after a “painstaking investigation.”
In response, Malami took to his social media handle to denounce the allegations as “fabricated.” While confirming his release and pledging to keep the public updated, he expressed confidence that the truth would “continue to unfold.” His statement did not address the specific seizure of his passport.
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