Malami Trial: EFCC, Correctional Service Officers Clash Over Courtroom Security

By our Correspondent

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) were involved in a heated confrontation on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja over security control during the trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The disagreement reportedly arose from conflicting claims by both agencies over who should oversee security arrangements for the court session involving the former minister.
Sources disclosed that the situation escalated when officials from the EFCC and NCoS each insisted on managing access and security at the court premises, particularly around the entrance to the courtroom.
The standoff reportedly intensified to the extent that officers from both agencies allegedly issued threats of violence against one another.
Due to the impasse, journalists covering the proceedings were subjected to heightened screening, as both the EFCC and the Correctional Service demanded to independently clear members of the press before granting entry into the courtroom.
Several journalists were later barred from accessing the courtroom, with officials citing that the hall had reached full capacity.
It would be recalled that on December 30, the Federal High Court ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending January 2, the date fixed for the hearing of his bail application.
Malami is facing trial alongside his son, Abdullaziz, and one Asabe Bashir over alleged fraud involving the sum of N211 billion.