By Ayo Ayodele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion.
The defendants were brought before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on December 30, 2025. They are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and urged the court to read the charge to the defendants and take their pleas. Defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection, prompting Justice Nwite to order that the charges be read.
According to the EFCC, one of the counts alleged that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025, procured a company to conceal the unlawful origin of over N1 billion lodged in a bank account, knowing or having reason to know that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities. Other counts alleged that the defendants conspired to disguise the origin of more than N1.04 billion and indirectly took control of over N1.36 billion through corporate accounts linked to hotel and property companies.
Following the taking of pleas, Iheanacho told the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed to trial. He disclosed that the EFCC had been served with a bail application by the defence a day earlier and requested time to respond.
The defence, however, urged the court to grant bail orally, arguing that the offences were bailable and that the law did not mandate that bail applications must be made in writing. Citing judicial authorities, Daudu maintained that the defendants were entitled to bail.
The prosecution opposed the oral application, insisting that bail applications must be supported by affidavit evidence. Iheanacho argued that granting bail orally would amount to ambushing the prosecution and urged the court to consider the gravity of the alleged offences and the public interest involved, given the scale of the alleged financial crimes.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution must be given adequate opportunity to respond to the bail application. He consequently ordered that Malami, his wife, and son be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The court adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for hearing of the bail application.
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