Former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami has hit out at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, claiming the agency refused to honour a court order granting him bail and kept him locked up illegally while running a media trial against him.
His media aide Mohammed Bello Doka released a statement on Wednesday, December 24, saying the EFCC ignored a valid bail order from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, even after Malami met all the conditions set by the judge.
The FCT High Court granted Malami interim bail on December 23, 2025, after hearing from both sides.
The judge found the former minister had satisfied the bail requirements and ordered his release while the case continues, with the next hearing scheduled for January.
But according to Malami’s office, EFCC officials would not accept the bail paperwork when it arrived.
The statement claimed officials sent the court bailiff away and insisted on keeping Malami behind bars.
His lawyers said he has now been held for more than 14 days without being brought before any court, calling the situation unconstitutional and oppressive.
READ ALSO: Court Upholds Malami’s Detention by EFCC, Dismisses Bail Request
Malami also took aim at what he called selective media briefings by the anti-graft agency designed to turn public opinion against him.
He described this as a “media trial” launched after the EFCC failed to get the courts on its side.
“Court orders are not advisory. They are binding on all authorities,” the statement read, adding that picking and choosing which court orders to follow could damage the rule of law.
The former minister said he was willing to face any allegations through proper legal channels but would not accept “trial by detention, trial by media, and trial by political vendetta.”
His team urged the judiciary and oversight bodies to step in over the alleged contempt of court.
The EFCC had not responded to the claims by the time of publication.