The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged money laundering offences.
Trial Justice Emeka Nwike directed that Malami be held alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and a co-defendant, Hajia Bashir Asabe, pending the determination of their bail application fixed for January 2, 2026.
The remand order followed the court’s refusal of an oral bail request made by the defence team, led by J.B. Daudu (SAN). Justice Nwike held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be given the opportunity to file and respond with a counter-affidavit to the bail application, having opposed the defendants’ release.
Malami and the two other defendants are facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving alleged public funds totalling about N9 billion. The EFCC accused them of acting in violation of Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, an offence punishable under Section 15(3) of the same law.
According to the anti-graft agency, Malami allegedly used proceeds of crime to acquire high-value properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations across the country.
The EFCC further alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants utilised a firm, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. The commission also claimed that the same company was used to siphon about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
In another allegation, the prosecution told the court that in March 2021, the defendants retained N600 million as cash collateral through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited for a N500 million loan granted to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd by Sterling Bank, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Part of the charge also accused Malami, his son and Hajia Bashir Asabe—an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited—of disguising the origin of N500 million allegedly paid to Efab Properties Ltd for the purchase of a luxury duplex located on Amazon Street, Maitama District, Abuja, in November 2022.
The EFCC maintained that the defendants knew or reasonably ought to have known that the funds involved in the transactions were proceeds of crime.
The case has been adjourned to January 2, 2026, when the court is expected to hear and determine the defendants’ formal bail applications.
