Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of deliberately obstructing his access to legal representation, describing the action as an attempt to undermine his constitutional right to fair hearing.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami said the continuous denial of access to his lawyers has severely affected his ability to consult with his legal team, prepare court filings and issue proper legal instructions.
According to the former Attorney-General, the development amounts to a direct violation of due process and fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
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“This sequence of events clearly suggests a pattern where arrest precedes investigation, with evidence sought after detention, an approach that is a blatant violation of the rule of law and constitutionally guaranteed rights,” the statement read.
Malami further expressed concern that the DSS appears to be adopting a practice of arrest, detention and subsequent evidence gathering, warning that such actions erode public trust in law enforcement institutions and weaken the country’s democratic foundations.
He called on relevant authorities to ensure that due process is upheld and that suspects are granted unhindered access to legal counsel in line with established legal standards.
