Alleged N8.7bn Money Laundering: Court Orders Remand of Ex-AGF Malami, Wife, Son in Kuje

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the remand of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, arraigned the trio on allegations of money laundering amounting to N8,713,923,759.49. They are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to 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 for arraignment and prayed that the charges be read and pleas taken. Defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection, following which the charges were read to the defendants.

One of the charges alleges that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of over N1.01 billion domiciled in a Sterling Bank account. Other counts accuse the defendants of conspiring to disguise and indirectly control proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira through accounts linked to Meethaq Hotels Limited and other entities.

After the defendants pleaded to the charges, the prosecution indicated readiness for trial and requested a trial date. Iheanacho also disclosed that the prosecution had been served with a bail application by the defence and sought time to respond.

In response, Daudu urged the court to grant bail orally, arguing that the offences were bailable and that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act does not mandate that bail applications be made in writing. The prosecution opposed the oral application, insisting that bail should be determined based on affidavit evidence and stressing the seriousness of the alleged offences and public interest considerations.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution must be given adequate opportunity to respond to the bail application. He consequently ordered the remand of the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to January 2, 2026, for hearing of the bail application.