The detention of two African Democratic Congress leaders, former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, is causing increasing concern within the party.
According to Sunday PUNCH, ABNTV reports that many party chieftains were worried that the legal woes of the men could disrupt party activities.
Party insiders said their detention was a big blow to the coalition.
Malami, who served under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is standing trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N8.7bn.
In December 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The defendants were arraigned on 16 counts of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
On January 19, the former minister was re-arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services immediately after being released on bail from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, where he had been remanded.
After spending 14 days in DSS custody, Malami and his son were, on February 3, charged with five counts bordering on terrorism and firearms offences.
The arraignment adds to Malami’s widening legal troubles, which include separate ongoing money-laundering proceedings and a related asset-forfeiture case before the Federal High Court.
On his part, El-Rufai is currently facing investigations and charges involving the EFCC, ICPC and the DSS.
The former Kaduna State governor was detained by the EFCC on Monday and released on Wednesday evening.
However, he was immediately re-arrested by operatives of the ICPC and has since remained in the commission’s custody.
El-Rufai is standing trial for allegedly intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
