A claim circulating on social media that a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah has been found to be untrue.
An X user, identified as @NuhuSadaø, had alleged on February 23 that Malami left Nigeria for the lesser pilgrimage and would remain in Saudi Arabia throughout Ramadan.
“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 post read.
The claim was shared alongside a photograph showing Malami seated with a woman inside an aircraft, attracting over 70 quote posts, 1,200 likes, and 75 reposts.
The allegation surfaced while the former minister remains in the custody of the Department of State Services over allegations related to terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.
CONTEXT OF THE CASE
Malami’s legal troubles began after operatives of the DSS arrested him on January 19, 2026, outside the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, shortly after he regained freedom on bail in a separate case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Before that arrest, he had been detained by the EFCC since December 8, 2025.
The anti-graft agency had, on December 30, 2025, arraigned Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife Bashir Asabe on charges bordering on alleged money laundering.
They were accused in a 16-count charge of laundering over N8.1 billion between 2015 and 2025 through various bank accounts and corporate fronts, but all defendants pleaded not guilty.
A Federal High Court in Abuja later granted them bail on January 7, 2026, in the sum of N500 million each.
Subsequently, Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, accused the EFCC on January 24 of delaying the submission of his principal’s international passport, a requirement for his bail conditions.
Fresh charges were later filed by the DSS, which arraigned Malami and his son on February 3 over alleged terrorism financing and illegal arms possession.
During proceedings, DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, urged the court to remand the defendants, while their lawyer, Shuaibu Aruwan, sought bail, noting that they had already spent over two weeks in detention.
However, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the oral application for bail and directed that a formal application be filed, ordering that the defendants remain in DSS custody and fixing February 20 for further hearing.
FINDINGS FROM CHECKS
Findings made by WITHIN NIGERIA showed that the photograph used to support the viral claim is not recent.
A reverse image search revealed that the picture first appeared online on May 24, 2024, when it was shared by an Instagram account linked to a support group for Fatima Malami.
First appearance of the image in 2024
Doka, an aide to the former AGF, dismissed the claim, maintaining that Malami has not left custody.
“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,” he said.
Further checks confirmed that the court hearing earlier scheduled for February 20 did not take place due to the public holiday declared by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
CONCLUSION
Based on available evidence, the claim that Malami is currently in Saudi Arabia observing Umrah is FALSE.
