The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Asabe, and son, Abubakar Malami, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering offences amounting to ₦8.7 billion.
The defendants were brought before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of the defendants.
“My Lord, this matter is for the arraignment of the defendants on a 16-count charge dated and filed on December 23, 2025. We humbly pray that the charge be read to the defendants and their pleas taken,” Iheanacho said.
Counsel to the defendants, J. B. Daudu, raised no objection, prompting the court to order that the charge be read.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly laundered a total sum of ₦8,713,923,759.49 through various corporate entities and bank accounts between 2022 and 2025.
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Counsel to the defendants, J. B. Daudu, raised no objection, prompting the court to order that the charge be read.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly laundered a total sum of ₦8,713,923,759.49 through various corporate entities and bank accounts between 2022 and 2025.
One of the charges alleges that Abubakar Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1.01 billion lodged in a Sterling Bank Plc account, knowing or reasonably expected to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Another count alleges that Malami, his son, and wife, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, conspired in September 2024 to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦1.04 billion paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024.
The commission further alleged that Malami and his son indirectly took control of ₦1.36 billion paid through the Union Bank savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited between November 2022 and October 2025, knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Following the taking of pleas, Iheanacho informed the court that the prosecution was ready for trial and requested a date. He also disclosed that the defence had served the prosecution with a bail application a day earlier and sought time to respond.
In response, defence counsel Daudu made an oral application for bail, arguing that the offences were bailable and that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) did not mandate that bail applications must be in writing.
Opposing the application, Iheanacho urged the court to discountenance the oral request, insisting that bail applications must be supported by affidavit evidence.
“This is a court of record. Submissions of counsel, no matter how brilliantly presented, do not amount to evidence,” he argued, adding that granting the application would amount to ambushing the prosecution.
He further urged the court to consider public interest, stressing that the case involved serious economic crimes and complex financial networks.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution must be given adequate opportunity to respond to the bail application.
He consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
