The detained erstwhile Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Chika Malami, has raised the alarm over what he described as unlawful detention by the Department of State Service (DSS) and their blatant refusal to meet his legal team to open a defence.
Bello Muhammed Doka, in a statement on Saturday, stated that Malami was rearrested by DSS after he met his bail conditions granted to him by the court on allegations of interim asset forfeiture.
According to Doka, it is worrisome and an abuse of Malami’s constitutional rights that his arrest precedes investigations, which negates constitutional provisions.
“We have raised the alarm over his detention by DSS for over five days without allowing him to meet his legal team and the release of his international passport, which is part of the bail conditions,” Doka stated.
He further said that Malami’s detention by the Department of State Service without access to his legal team, which was only granted on Friday, clearly indicated that they are using the same pattern the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission used to deny him speedy justice and bail already granted by a competent court.
Doka urged DSS to discontinue their blockage of Malami’s access to his legal team and release required documents to enable him to open his defence.
“We know they are a responsible organisation who believes in the rule of law and also believes in the just administration of justice; therefore, we expect they apply that in the case of Malami,” he stated.
He noted that obstruction of justice amounted to infringements of Malami’s human rights and his right to a free and fair hearing.
The former Attorney General’s rearrest after meeting court-granted bail conditions has raised questions about the coordination between different security agencies and the respect for judicial orders in ongoing high-profile corruption cases.