A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also directed that Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe—be remanded in custody.
The ruling followed submissions by counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution team led by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
Malami and the other defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired at different times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.
The charge sheet alleges that the offences, which spanned several years, involved the use of multiple companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of large sums of cash as loan collateral, and the purchase of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.
The commission further claimed that some of the alleged acts were carried out while Malami was in office as Attorney-General of the Federation, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
