Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — In a major escalation of high‑profile anti‑corruption prosecutions, the Federal Government of Nigeria has filed criminal charges of money laundering and illegal concealment of funds against former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. The charges were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), marking a significant development in ongoing efforts to tackle alleged financial crimes involving senior public officials.
Court documents filed under Criminal Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025 outline 16 counts accusing the defendants of laundering and concealing more than ₦1.014 billion in funds allegedly traced to a Sterling Bank Plc account. The government alleges that the sum — purportedly of unlawful origin — was moved, concealed and disguised through corporate intermediaries and property transactions in clear contravention of Nigeria’s anti‑money laundering legislation.
According to the charges, the Malamis “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds represented proceeds of unlawful activities. The prosecution asserts that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the illicit origin of the funds held in Sterling Bank Account No. 0079182387, in violation of Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The indictment further alleges that portions of the funds were used as cash collateral for a loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, and that sums were channelled through accounts linked to Meethaq Hotels Limited, another entity associated with the defendants. The charges span multiple alleged offences committed within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja and invoke provisions of both the 2022 anti‑money laundering law and earlier iterations as amended.
In addition to the Malami father and son, Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is named as a co‑defendant in the case. Prosecutors allege that the property company and related entities were used as fronts to acquire real estate and other assets in ways that masked the true origins of the funds, including luxury residential properties in elite districts of Abuja and other regions.
The charges reflect multiple alleged violations of Nigeria’s money‑laundering statutes, including Sections 18(2), 18(3) and related provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and its predecessor laws. These sections cover offences ranging from disguising the origin of proceeds of unlawful activity to directly procuring or handling such proceeds.
The government’s action forms part of a broader EFCC investigation into Malami’s conduct both during and after his tenure as Attorney‑General from 2015 to 2023. Earlier in December, the anti‑graft agency confirmed that Malami was being investigated for multiple alleged offences including money laundering, abuse of office and other financial irregularities tied to suspicious accounts and assets. Officials said at the time that Malami was detained due to his failure to meet bail conditions and was being questioned on a range of matters, though the EFCC did not publicly disclose specifics until the filing of this indictment.
Legal analysts say the charges represent one of the most detailed sets of money‑laundering allegations against a former chief law officer of the federation in Nigeria’s history. The scale of the sums involved, the number of properties referenced and the involvement of corporate vehicles all suggest a complex alleged scheme to conceal and launder funds over a multi‑year period.
Malami’s lawyer and spokesperson have not yet issued a public response to the formal charges as of filing. In earlier phases of the probe, Malami denied allegations of terrorism financing and other wrongdoing, calling some media reports “false and misleading,” although he did not directly address specific alleged financial offences when making broader statements.
The arraignment before the Federal High Court is now expected to set in motion a series of legal proceedings, including matters of bail, disclosure of evidence and preliminary hearings. Given the prominence of the defendants and the volume of assets reportedly linked to the case, the trial is likely to draw intense public and legal scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
Observers note that the Nigerian government’s commitment to prosecuting senior figures on corruption and financial crime charges has been a recurring theme in recent years, even as critics argue that enforcement must be impartial and transparent to reinforce confidence in the rule of law. The Malami indictment adds a high‑profile chapter to these ongoing debates about accountability, governance and the effectiveness of anti‑graft institutions in Nigeria.
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