Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General, will appear in Abuja Federal High Court on January 7 for his bail hearing in an ₦8.7 billion money laundering case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled January 7, 2026, to hear the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over alleged money laundering and illegal property acquisitions worth ₦8.7 billion.
Malami, his son Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, are facing trial based on a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The trio pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on December 29, 2025.
Following their plea, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre until January 2, 2026, when their written bail application will be formally argued. Justice Nwite ruled that granting bail prematurely would amount to an ambush, as the defense had already submitted the formal request.
Alleged Offences
The EFCC indictment (FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025) alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities over nearly ten years, primarily between 2015 and 2025, during Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s Attorney-General.
The commission claims that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025 and deposited an additional ₦600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
Properties allegedly purchased with illicit funds include:
- Luxury duplex, Amazon Street, Maitama – ₦500 million
- Property, Onitsha Crescent, Garki – ₦700 million
- Property, Jabi District – ₦850 million
- Real estate, Rhine Street, Maitama – ₦430 million
- Properties, Asokoro District – ₦210 million and ₦325 million
- Estate, Efab Estate, Gwarimpa – ₦120 million
The EFCC further alleges that Malami used ₦952 million of illicit proceeds to acquire additional properties across Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, often through proxies and corporate entities to conceal ownership.
Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is said to have facilitated these transactions and disguised ownership on Malami’s behalf.
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The commission stated that the alleged actions violate the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Legal Process
The EFCC has listed witnesses including bank officials, investigators, bureau de change operators, and company representatives to support its case. The bail hearing, now scheduled for January 7, 2026, is expected to be closely monitored due to Malami’s former position as Nigeria’s top legal officer and the high-profile nature of the allegations.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat high-level corruption and money laundering in Nigeria, while the court proceedings continue to attract national and international attention.
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