Abuja — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the immediate remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, along with his son, Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Hajia Bashir Asabe, in prison custody over alleged money laundering.
The trio appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who re-arraigned them on a 16-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They are accused of laundering public funds totaling approximately N9 billion.
The court directed that Malami and his son be detained at Kuje Prison, while Asabe was remanded at Suleja Prison in Niger State. The defendants are to remain in custody until March 6, when their bail applications will be heard.
Malami’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, requested that the court allow the defendants to rely on the bail previously granted on January 7. However, Justice Abdulmalik emphasized that the case was restarting afresh before her and required a new bail application. Efforts to secure oral bail applications were unsuccessful.
The EFCC alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his family used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. They are also accused of siphoning N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021 and retaining N600 million in March 2021 as cash collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowledge that the funds were proceeds of crime.
The defendants are facing charges under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and Malami and his son are additionally facing five-count terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Among those expected to testify against the defendants are investigators, bank officials, real estate agents, and Bureau de Change operators. Malami was previously arrested and detained by the DSS after meeting bail conditions in the EFCC case but was later released.
This development marks a significant escalation in the high-profile legal challenges facing the former Justice Minister.
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