Court orders remand of ex-Attorney General Malami, son, wife over alleged billion Naira money laundering

By Johnson Arua

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 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 alongside him.

The order followed arguments presented by the defence counsel, led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).

Malami and the two others are standing trial on a 16-count charge of money laundering filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency alleges that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of Naira.

According to the charge, the alleged offences span several years and involved alleged the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of large sums of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations across the country.

The EFCC further claims that some of the alleged offences were committed while Malami was serving 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.

The case has been adjourned to a later date for the hearing of the bail application.