A tense confrontation broke out on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) clashed during the trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The incident caused panic within the court premises and briefly disrupted proceedings, as both security agencies openly challenged each other over who should take control of security arrangements for the high-profile trial.
Eyewitnesses said the disagreement began early in the day when officers from both agencies attempted to assert authority over access control and movement around the courtroom.
The situation quickly escalated as tempers flared, with heated arguments exchanged in full view of court officials, lawyers, and journalists.
Court sources revealed that the confrontation became so intense that officers from both sides allegedly issued threats against one another, raising fears of a possible violent outcome.
The situation reportedly came close to spiralling out of control before senior officers intervened to prevent further escalation.
The standoff led to stricter security checks for journalists and members of the public. Reporters covering the trial were subjected to repeated screening, as both the EFCC and the Correctional Service insisted on personally clearing members of the press before allowing entry into the courtroom.
Several journalists were eventually turned back, with officials claiming the courtroom had reached full capacity.
This development sparked complaints among media practitioners, many of whom accused security personnel of deliberately restricting access to the proceedings.
Despite the chaos, the court eventually restored order and continued with the day’s activities under heavy security presence.
It would be recalled that the Federal High Court had earlier ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
The court fixed January 2 for the bail hearing after initially remanding him on December 30.
Malami is facing trial alongside his son, Abdullaziz Malami, and one Asabe Bashir. They are standing trial over allegations bordering on financial fraud, which the defendants have denied.
