A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7 to rule on the bail application of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is facing allegations of money laundering.
Malami is currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Also standing trial alongside him are his son, Abdulaziz Malami (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria), and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe.
The trio is being prosecuted on a 16-count charge bordering on the alleged laundering of ₦8.7 billion. They all pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.
After taking their pleas, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje facility pending the hearing of their written bail application, which was initially scheduled for January 2, 2026, before the court fixed January 7 for a ruling.
According to the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the defendants allegedly conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds of unlawful activities. The EFCC claimed that the funds were laundered through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions spanning nearly a decade.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred between 2015 and 2025, largely within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s Attorney-General.
Investigators alleged that Malami and his son used a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal ₦1.014 billion lodged in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025. They were also accused of depositing an additional ₦600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The charge sheet listed several luxury properties allegedly acquired with illicit funds. These include a ₦500 million duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama; a ₦700 million property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki; and a ₦850 million property in Jabi District.
Other properties allegedly linked to the defendants include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (₦430 million); properties in Asokoro District (₦210 million and ₦325 million); and a home at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (₦120 million).
The EFCC further alleged that Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling ₦952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, allegedly using proxies and corporate fronts to conceal ownership.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged acts violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
About the Author
