FACT CHECK: Ex-AGF Malami travelled to Saudi Arabia amid trial?

On Monday, an X user identified as @NuhuSadaø claimed that Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation, has travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, a pilgrimage which can be performed at any period of the year.

The X user also claimed that Malami will be spending the rest of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia. (archived here).

“Breaking: Haters: Abubakar Malami SAN Travels to Saudi Arabia for Umrah Nothing, Not Even the 001, Can Stop Him! He Will Spend the Rest of Ramadan There…. See More,” the X user wrote.

The post, which was accompanied by a picture showing Malami alongside a woman inside an aeroplane, has gathered over 60 quotes, 1,200 likes, and 75 reposts.

The post was published amid his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

BACKGROUND

On January 19, 2026, DSS operatives arrested Malami at the front of Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, shortly after he was released on bail in a case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Before his arrest by DSS, Malami had been in EFCC’s custody since December 8, 2025.

On December 30, 2025, the former AGF, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe, were arraigned by the EFCC over allegations bordering on money laundering. The defendants pleaded not guilty.

In the 16-count charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants conspired to launder proceeds of unlawful activity between 2015 and 2025, using bank accounts and corporate entities to conceal the source and ownership of the fund worth over N8.1 billion.

On January 7, 2026, a federal high court in Abuja granted bail to Malami, his son, and wife in the sum of N500 million in the case filed by the EFCC.

On January 24, 2026, Mohammed Bello Doka, the media aide to Malami, accused EFCC of delaying the submission of his principal’s passport to the court.

Doka said the submission of the passport is part of the bail conditions.

On February 3, 2026, DSS arraigned Malami and his son over alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

During the court proceedings, Calistus Eze, DSS counsel, asked the court to remand Malami and his son into the custody of the secret police.

However, Shuaibu Aruwan, counsel to the defendants, moved the oral bail application of the defendants, citing that his clients have been in custody for over two weeks.

But the oral bail application was rejected by Joyce Abdulmalik, the trial judge, who asked that a bail application be filed.

She ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the case to February 20.

VERIFICATION

When CableCheck analysed the picture that accompanied the post on Google Lens, it was discovered that the image was first posted on the internet on May 24, 2024.

An Instagram account identified as “fatimamalamiwomensupportgroup” posted the image on May 24, 2024.

A review of the Instagram account shows it is being managed by a support group of Fatima Malami, the wife of the former AGF.

The picture was captioned “Allah ya sa ayi hajji karbabiya Uwar marayu, Yar baraya uwar kamshi”, which is loosely translated as “May Allah make Hajj acceptable to the Mother of orphans, the Daughter of the Brothers, the Mother of Fragrance”.

CableCheck reached out to Doka, Malami’s media aide, over the claim. The media aide said his principal is still in DSS custody.

Doka said Malami’s bail application was supposed to be heard on February 20 at the federal high court in Abuja, but was adjourned because of the public holiday declared by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

“That is not true. Malami is still with the DSS. He was even brought to court last Friday, but because the FCT minister declared a public holiday for the council election, the case could not be held.

“The case will be coming up on Friday, February 27, 2026.”

VERDICT.

The claim that Malami is currently in Saudi Arabia is false.