The bail hearing for former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, commenced at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, January 2.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is currently remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, over allegations of money laundering.
The trio faces a 16-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), relating to the alleged laundering of ₦8.7 billion. They pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on December 29, 2025.
Following the plea, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the defendants remain in custody pending the hearing of their bail application, scheduled for January 2, 2026.
According to the EFCC’s charge sheet (FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025), the defendants allegedly used corporate entities, bank accounts, and real estate transactions to conceal illicit funds.
The commission alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to disguise over ₦1.01 billion, while an additional ₦600 million allegedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company.
In another count, the EFCC accused Malami, his son, and Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, of laundering ₦500 million allegedly used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
The commission also alleged that the defendants conspired to launder ₦1.04 billion through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, with transactions spanning November 2022 to September 2024.
Another count accuses Malami and his son of taking indirect control of ₦1.36 billion through the same company’s account, funds the EFCC claims were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The EFCC also alleged that Malami, while serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, concealed N700 million allegedly used to acquire a property at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, as well as ₦850 million used to purchase another property in the Jabi District of Abuja.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency told the court that it had traced 41 properties valued at approximately N212 billion to Malami and his associates, and that these assets form part of the subject of the ongoing prosecution.