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Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, have pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering and illegal acquisition of properties worth over ₦8.7 billion.
The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.
The EFCC accused the trio of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds of unlawful activities, using multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly a decade to indirectly acquire illicit funds. The alleged offences span 2015 to 2025, mostly during Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s AGF, and primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025, while also depositing an additional ₦600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The EFCC further claims that Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling ₦952 million to acquire multiple properties across Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023. Several properties were reportedly purchased through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership. Among the properties listed are:
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A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama (₦500 million)
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A property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki (₦700 million)
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A property in Jabi District (₦850 million)
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Additional properties on Rhine Street, Maitama (₦430 million); Asokoro District (₦210 million and ₦325 million); and Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (₦120 million)
Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is alleged to have facilitated these property transactions and helped disguise ownership on Malami’s behalf.
The EFCC said the defendants’ actions violate the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
To support its case, the commission has listed a range of witnesses, including investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives.
The trial is set to continue as the court proceeds with pre-trial and substantive hearings.
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