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The High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and co-defendant Hajia Bashir Asabe at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations of money laundering.
The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Emeka Nwite, where they pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). After taking arguments from both sides, the court ordered their immediate remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
Malami’s defence team, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, urged the court to grant bail, while the prosecution, led by Ekele Iheneacho, SAN, opposed the application. Justice Nwite ruled that the defendants should remain in custody until the bail process is concluded.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2023, a period covering Malami’s entire tenure as the country’s chief law officer. The commission alleges that the acts contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, with some of the transactions said to have occurred while Malami was in office.
The remand order follows Malami’s arraignment on December 30, after weeks of detention and legal disputes over bail conditions. The former AGF and his co-defendants have consistently denied the allegations, with Malami previously insisting that elements of the investigation are politically motivated.
The case has been adjourned for the hearing of bail applications, as the court continues proceedings in the high-profile prosecution.
