A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife and son, pending the hearing of their fresh bail applications in an alleged multi-billion-naira money laundering case.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, sitting in Maitama on Friday, directed that Malami and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, be returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, was remanded at the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre.
The trio were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, and laundering of alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49.
According to the prosecution, the charges contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel, Chief J.S. Okutepa (SAN), sought the court’s approval to amend certain numerical figures in counts 11 and 12 of the charge sheet to align with the amounts written in words. The defence counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), did not oppose the amendment but requested that the prosecution formally apply for it — a request granted by the court.
One of the counts alleged that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025, used a company to conceal over N1.01 billion believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities in a Sterling Bank account. Another count accused the defendants of conspiring to disguise more than N1.04 billion routed through accounts linked to a hospitality firm in Abuja.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked that the defendants be remanded. The defence argued that the accused persons had earlier been granted bail by another Federal High Court judge and had complied with all conditions.
However, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the previous bail automatically lapsed following the reassignment of the case, directing the defendants to file fresh bail applications before her court. An oral bail application by the defence was rejected, with the judge insisting on a formal application due to the gravity of the allegations.
The court also ordered that defence lawyers be granted access to the defendants to prepare for trial.
The matter was adjourned to March 6, 2026, for the hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial proceedings.
