Olusegun Ariyo
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The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court on Thursday rejected the bail application of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.Malami had in the application sought bail from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Babangida Hassan, said Malami’s detention was lawful and backed by a valid court order.The EFCC had accused Malami of money laundering and abuse of office.Urban Express News recalls that the anti-graft agency, on November 28, invited Malami for questioning.Subsequently, reports emerged indicating that Malami’s international passport was seized over the ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged $490 million Abacha loot, which was secured by the immediate past administration through a Mutual Legal Assistance, MLAT, request.The former minister has been detained in the custody of the anti-graft agency.However, the former AGF has described the allegations against him as “baseless, illogical and wholly devoid of substance”.He claimed that upon his assumption of office in 2015 as Nigeria’s Attorney-General, the recovery of the said funds had already been completed by a Swiss lawyer, Mr. Enrico Monfrini.
