By Vincent Egunyanga, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, alleged to be his wife, at the Kuje Correctional Centre after they pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering involving over N8.7 billion.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency accused them of conspiring to conceal, disguise and retain proceeds of unlawful activities through complex banking transactions and high-value property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states.
*Plead not guilty to N8.7bn laundering charges
After the charges were read, Malami, his son and Asabe each pleaded not guilty to all counts. Defence counsel subsequently made an oral bail application, but Justice Nwite declined to consider it, noting that the defendants had already filed a substantive written bail application.
The judge held that granting bail at that stage orally would amount to an ambush of the prosecution and, consequently, ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody.
*Court adjourns bail hearing to January 2
He adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for hearing and determination of the bail application.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC alleged that the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, a period that overlaps with Malami’s eight-year tenure as Nigeria’s chief law officer under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The commission alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, as well as an additional N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021, knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Other counts alleged that the defendants retained illicit funds as cash collateral for bank loans, disguised proceeds through hotel and property development companies, and acquired multiple luxury properties in prime locations within the Federal Capital Territory.
Among the properties listed in the charge are a N500 million duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama; a N700 million property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki; a N850 million property in Jabi District; as well as other high-value properties in Asokoro, Rhine Street and Efab Estate, Gwarimpa. The EFCC said the cumulative value of the properties and funds involved exceeds N8.7 billion.
Hajia Bashir Asabe, described by the prosecution as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, was accused of playing a key role in facilitating the acquisition of the properties and disguising beneficial ownership on behalf of the former Minister and his family.
The EFCC informed the court that it plans to call several witnesses, including investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators and financial experts, to establish the flow of funds and link the defendants to the alleged offences.
Malami and his co-defendants were brought into court under EFCC escort at about 8:55 am, amid tight security and heightened public interest, given the former Minister’s prominence in the last administration.
The case has drawn national attention as one of the most high-profile corruption prosecutions involving a former Attorney-General, with proceedings expected to resume in January when the court will rule on the defendants’ bail application.
