Abuja, December 23, 2025 — The Office of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of open defiance of court orders, illegal detention, and conducting a media trial against him.
In a strongly worded press statement released on Tuesday, Malami’s office alleged that the EFCC has refused to comply with a clear bail order issued by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on December 23, 2025, despite having been duly served with the court process.
According to the statement, EFCC officials allegedly refused to accept the court-backed bail letter, chased away a court bailiff, and continued to detain Malami in what the office described as “brazen, contemptuous, and lawless conduct.”
Alleged Illegal Detention Beyond Court Approval
The office further revealed that Malami has been in EFCC custody for over fourteen (14) days without arraignment, contrary to constitutional provisions and the specific court order permitting detention for a maximum of 14 days, which expired on the same day.
“The EFCC was legally obligated to either release him immediately or arraign him before a court of competent jurisdiction today. It has done neither,” the statement said.
The continued detention, it added, amounts to a gross violation of Malami’s fundamental human rights and underscores what it described as the agency’s descent into institutional lawlessness.
Accusation of Media Trial and Political Persecution
Beyond the detention, the Office of Abubakar Malami accused the EFCC of engaging in an orchestrated media trial, alleging that selective narratives are being fed to the press in an attempt to influence public opinion and damage reputations rather than pursue justice through the courts.
The statement warned that when an anti-graft agency disobeys court orders, detains citizens without trial, and weaponizes the media, it “ceases to be an instrument of justice and becomes a threat to democracy.”
Call for Judicial and Public Intervention
Malami’s office called on:
The judiciary to urgently address what it termed open contempt of court;
Oversight and regulatory bodies to investigate and hold the EFCC accountable; and
Concerned Nigerians to speak out against what it described as a dangerous precedent.
The statement reiterated that Abubakar Malami, SAN, remains willing to submit himself fully to due process and have any allegations determined by a court of law, but strongly rejects trial by detention, media propaganda, or political vendetta.
“Court orders are not suggestions. No agency, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” the statement concluded.