In a significant development in Nigeria's ongoing fight against corruption, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, along with his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Asabe Bashir, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, in Kuje Correctional Center.
The order follows their arraignment on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, conspiracy, and concealment of proceeds from unlawful activities totaling over N9 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the charges against the defendants, alleging they engaged in transactions between 2015 and 2025 to disguise the origin of illicit funds through various companies and property acquisitions in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states.
Key allegations include the concealment of more than N1 billion in a Sterling Bank account via Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, and the use of over N600 million for cash collateral on a loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd in March 2021.
Additional counts detail the purchase of luxury properties, such as a duplex in Maitama, Abuja, and other assets valued in the hundreds of millions of naira, all purportedly funded by proceeds of illegal activities.
During the court session on Tuesday, all three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Nwite adjourned the matter for hearing on bail applications and ordered their remand in Kuje prison pending further proceedings.
This ruling comes after Malami had been in EFCC custody since December 8, 2025, following earlier remand orders and dismissed bail applications in related hearings.
The case stems from an EFCC investigation into suspicious wealth accumulation during Malami's tenure as AGF under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023. Searches conducted on December 17 at Malami's properties uncovered documents linked to 41 assets worth an estimated N212.89 billion.
Malami has previously described the actions against him as politically motivated, citing his references to a judicial inquiry report implicating current EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede.
The EFCC maintains that the prosecution is based on evidence of violations under the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 and 2022.