Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, his son Abdulaziz Malami, and one Asabe Bashir in Kuje correctional centre till January 2, 2026, pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The courts ruling was predicated on grounds that their bail application was filed earlier in the day and there is the need for the prosecution to respond to it.
Malami alongside two others were arraigned on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to the 16-count charge, bothering on alleged money laundering, concealment of illicit funds, and unlawful acquisition of assets valued at more than N1.014 billion.
The defendants were said to have committed the various alleged offences between November 2015 and June 2025.
After taking their plea, the prosecution counsel told the court that he received a bail application earlier in the day and needs to attend to it, while asking for an adjournment to that effect.
However the defense counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN, made an oral bail application to the court, noting that the condition where a written application is needed is where it is a capital offence, stating that the offence of the defendants are bailable since they are bent on issues of money laundering.
While siting section 36(5), Daudu noted that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The senior lawyer also said that the defendants do not constitute flight risks and have been in the custody of the EFCC for the purpose of the trial.
While opposing Daudu’s submission, the prosecution counsel noted that the application was to be filed and not made orally.
He also stated that the charge which is against the defendants bothers on serious economic crimes involving complex financial networks, noting that public interest has to be taken into account so that the court would not be seen as indulging the defendant because of his status.
After listening to the submissions of both lawyers in the matter, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre pending the hearing of the bail application earlier filed.
Justice Nwite noted that it would amount to an ambush for the court to have taken the oral application, as the prosecution should be allowed to react to the bail application filed on them earlier in the day.
Malami, who was Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been in custody of the anti-graft agency since December 8.
The EFCC in the charge filed by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, claimed that the funds allegedly acquired unlawfully were used for the purchase of luxury properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations.
In count one, Malami and his son were said to have between July 2022 and June 2025, “procure METROPOLITAN AUTO TECH LIMITED to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387″, when they reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”.
Malami and his son were in count two alleged to have procured the same METROPOLITAN AUTO TECH LIMITED to conceal the unlawful origin of another sum of over N600 million.
In another count, they were alleged to have in November 2022, used Rahamaniyya Properties Limited to conceal N500 million paid for a luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
While in count five the trio were alleged to have sometimes in September 2024, conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N1, 049, 173, 926. 13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd Jabi savings Account No. 0179011105 between November 2022 and September 2024, they were in count six accused of indirectly taking control of the aggregate sum of N1, 362, 887, 872.96, paid through the savings account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd in Union Bank Plc when they “reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (d) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, Malami, his son and Bashir were also charged with concealing the sum of N700 million paid for a property at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja, and N850 million for another property at Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja.
Similarly, the three defendants were said to have in February 2018, acquired No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for N430 million and in the same month concealed N210 million for No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro, Abuja.
They were also charged with concealing N325 million for No. 1241B, Asokoro District, between March and June 2021, and N120 million for No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, between November 2015 and January 2016.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
