A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, has admitted nine documentary exhibits in the ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Malami.
The exhibits were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of its prosecution of the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procurement, concealment, and laundering of alleged illicit funds totaling ₦8,713,923,759.49. The charges are brought under the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The documents, admitted as Exhibits D1 to D9, were presented through the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Mashelia Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc. While being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, the witness told the court that the documents were obtained in response to official EFCC requests concerning accounts linked to the defendants and several associated companies.
Bata explained that, as part of his duties at Zenith Bank’s Maitama branch, he handles correspondence from law enforcement agencies. He confirmed that the bank provided both electronic and physical copies of records relating to accounts tied to the defendants and entities including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
Providing insight into the financial records, the witness identified Exhibit D1 as containing account opening documents and statements for accounts belonging to Malami and A.A. Malami & Co, including both naira and dollar accounts. He stated that one of the accounts showed activity between 2015 and 2023, with significant transfers recorded.
According to his testimony, total credits into one of the accounts amounted to ₦383.6 million between January 2016 and December 2023, while ₦560.5 million was recorded between 2012 and 2015. On the debit side, ₦384.3 million was withdrawn between 2016 and 2023, and ₦571.9 million between 2012 and 2015.
The witness further highlighted notable inflows, including ₦194.7 million from New Horizons Limited in November 2020, ₦622.5 million from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited in June 2022, and two separate ₦250 million transfers from Rayhaan Hotels Limited in July 2022. Another ₦500 million inflow, also linked to Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, was recorded in December 2022.
He told the court that the exhibits contained numerous other transactions running into billions of naira.
Although defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, initially raised objections—particularly regarding the timing of the documents—the court overruled the objection and admitted the exhibits into evidence.
Following the proceedings, the defence sought an adjournment to study the documents and prepare for cross-examination. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case until May 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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