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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son Abdulaziz Malami, and a co-defendant, Hajia Bashir Asabe, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Trial Justice Emeka Nwike directed that the defendants be held in custody until January 2, 2026, when their formal bail requests would be considered.
The order followed the court’s rejection of an oral bail application moved by the defence team led by Mr J. B. Daudu, SAN. Justice Nwike held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which opposed the application, must be given the opportunity to file a counter-affidavit.
Malami and the other defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about N9 billion, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering laws.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly breached Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), an offence punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The anti-graft agency accused the former justice minister of using proceeds of crime to acquire high-value properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other cities.
Prosecutors told the court that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants allegedly used a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account.
They were also accused of using the same firm to allegedly siphon about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The EFCC further alleged that in March 2021, the defendants retained N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million loan granted to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd by Sterling Bank, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
One of the counts reads: “That you Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between July 2022 and June, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1,014,848,500.00 … when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Another count alleged: “That you, Abubakar Malami SAN, whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between September 2020 and February 2021 … did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N600,013,460.4 … and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended.”
In a further allegation, the EFCC stated: “That you, Abubakar Malami SAN, whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, sometime in March, 2021 … did retain the total sum of N600,000,000.00 as cash collateral for a loan of N500,000,000.00 granted to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd … knowing that the said cash collateral was the proceeds of unlawful activities.”
Another count accused the defendants of disguising the source of funds used to acquire a luxury property in Abuja. It stated:
“That you Abubakar Malami SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe … did indirectly disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N500,000,000.00 paid to Efab Properties Ltd for the purchase of a luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Maitama District, Abuja … contrary to Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The case was adjourned to January 2, 2026, for hearing of their bail applications.