A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled January 7 to hear the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over alleged money laundering.
Malami is currently remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, along with his son Abdulaziz and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, are facing trial on a 16-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trio, accused of laundering ₦8.7 billion, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.
Following their plea, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that they remain in custody at Kuje Correctional Centre until January 2, 2026, when their written bail application will be argued by their legal team.
In the charge, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the defendants are accused of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities. The EFCC alleges that over nearly a decade, they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions to indirectly acquire illicit funds.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.
Specifically, the EFCC claims that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, and deposited an additional ₦600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The properties reportedly involved include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama (₦500 million); a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki (₦700 million); and a property in Jabi District (₦850 million). Other acquisitions include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (₦430 million); two properties in Asokoro District (₦210 million and ₦325 million); and a property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (₦120 million).
The EFCC further alleges that between 2018 and 2023, Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling ₦952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi, often through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.
The commission asserts that these actions contravene the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
