The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned until June 23, 2026, for the continuation of hearing in the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case filed against the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
The trio are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, and laundering of alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the EFCC, the case involves allegations of disguising and laundering billions of naira linked to unlawful transactions.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel J.S. Okutepa (SAN) informed the court that the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial but that the defence had submitted a letter seeking adjournment.
Okutepa noted that while the prosecution was not opposing the request in order not to delay proceedings, it urged the court to take into account the number of previous adjournments already granted to the defence.
“We are not opposing, but we want my lord to note that the defendants have applied for adjournment once,” he said.
In her ruling, trial judge Justice Joyce Abdulmalik observed that the absence of the lead defence counsel should not ordinarily stall proceedings, noting that his chambers had several other lawyers who could proceed with the matter.
However, she granted the request, stating that the defence was still within its allowable adjournment limits.
The court subsequently fixed June 23, 2026, for continuation of the trial at the instance of the defence.
