Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate be remanded in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications in a high‑profile money laundering case. The decision underscores the gravity of the allegations and the court’s determination to ensure a comprehensive judicial process.
The remand order was issued on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, following the arraignment of the defendants on a 16‑count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The prosecution opposed the defendants’ oral bail application, prompting the court to hold them in custody to allow the anti‑graft agency adequate time to respond formally to the bail request.
Malami, who served as the country’s chief law officer under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, along with his son and co‑accused Hajia Bashir Asabe, pleaded not guilty to all counts when they appeared before the court. Charges against them relate to alleged conspiracy to conceal, disguise, retain and indirectly acquire proceeds of unlawful activities running into billions of naira.
According to court filings, the EFCC alleges that from 2015 through 2025 the defendants engaged in systematic money laundering by channeling illicit funds through various bank accounts and corporate entities, and using the proceeds to acquire high‑value properties in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and other locations. The indictment also claims that some transactions involved disguising the origin of funds to secure loans and purchase luxury real estate — actions that the commission says violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Among the alleged illicit activities highlighted in the charge sheet are the concealment of more than N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account through a company known as Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025; the concealment of an additional N600 million over a separate period; and arrangements that allegedly facilitated the acquisition of multiple properties through indirect channels.
Justice Nwite ruled that granting bail at this stage — without first allowing the prosecution to file its counter‑affidavit — could undermine the prosecution’s right to fair hearing. Consequently, the court remanded the defendants at Kuje Correctional Centre, with the bail application now scheduled for hearing on January 2, 2026.
The case has drawn significant public and media attention, given Malami’s former position as the nation’s Attorney‑General and his influence in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape. Observers and legal analysts say the trial will test the nation’s judicial independence and anti‑corruption framework, particularly in holding elite figures accountable under the law.
The EFCC’s prosecution of Malami and his co‑accused forms part of a broader effort by the anti‑graft agency to clamp down on high‑value financial crimes and recover suspected proceeds of corruption. As the legal proceedings continue, both the prosecution and defence are expected to present detailed arguments on the merits of the allegations and the interpretation of anti‑money laundering statutes.
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