Malami’s reported surrender on Monday came after a week-long delay in enforcing a bail order granted by the Federal High Court in his N8.7 billion money-laundering case, despite his reported compliance with all bail conditions.

What should have been a routine administrative process instead escalated into a high-profile confrontation involving security agencies, the courts, and political actors.

Amid the standoff, Mohammed Bello Doka, Special Assistant on Media to Abubakar Malami, SAN, had earlier issued a statement raising alarm over alleged plans by security agencies to rearrest the former justice minister immediately upon his release.

The statement identified the Department of State Services as having mounted surveillance around the correctional facility.

Security around Kuje Prison had been tightened since early January, with more than 50 DSS operatives reportedly deployed to strategic positions within and around the facility.

Sources said the deployment was aimed at preventing Malami’s release amid an ongoing investigation into alleged terrorism-related activities, particularly after he was granted bail by the court.

Tensions heightened last Friday when Malami’s son, Abdulaziz, was rearrested at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The incident occurred on the same day court bailiffs from the Federal High Court arrived with fully processed bail documents to secure Malami’s release but were unable to do so amid the security clampdown.

Malami’s reported surrender also came hours after activist Omoyele Sowore publicly announced plans to visit Kuje Prison to intervene and help secure his release, further drawing national attention to the unfolding situation.

In the statement released earlier by Doka, Malami’s office said: “We have been reliably informed of plans by government security agencies to rearrest him immediately upon his release, despite being granted bail by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“This development is deeply troubling and raises grave concerns about due process, the rule of law, and personal safety.

“It will be recalled that weeks ago, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) granted bail to Abubakar Malami, SAN. However, the bail order was not honoured, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declined to effect his release, thereby frustrating a valid judicial decision.

“We are now credibly informed that fresh plans are underway to rearrest Malami on what are believed to be trumped-up and unrelated charges, immediately after his release on bail in the current matter. Intelligence available to us further indicates that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have mounted surveillance and are on standby to execute this plan.

“This pattern of actions, granting bail on paper while preparing fresh arrests to ensure continued detention, represents a grave assault on constitutional safeguards and an abuse of state power.

“We therefore place it clearly on record that the safety of Abubakar Malami, SAN, his family, and his staff is under serious threat.

“Abubakar Malami, SAN, has consistently demonstrated his respect for the rule of law and his readiness to submit himself to all lawful judicial processes.

“We call on relevant authorities, the legal community, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor this situation and to prevail on all security agencies to act strictly within the confines of the law.”

As of Monday night, neither the DSS nor the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had issued an official response to the allegations surrounding the stalled bail, the security deployment at Kuje, and Malami’s reported custody.