Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, will today, December 2, return to court as the legal battle over their bail begins in the ongoing N9 billion corruption case filed by the Federal Government.
The duo, together with Hajia Bashir Asabe — a staff member of Ramadiya Property Limited who is currently on remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre — are expected to be produced before the Federal High Court in Abuja to argue their bail applications from prison custody.
Justice Emeka Nwite had adjourned proceedings to today after rejecting an earlier oral bail request following their arraignment on 16 counts of money laundering.
At their arraignment, Malami and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Federal Government.
During Tuesday’s hearing, counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, urged the court to grant bail through an oral application. He argued that the alleged offences were bailable and non-capital in nature, stressing that the defendants were constitutionally presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“The offences of money laundering are bailable. The charges are not complicated, and the defendants are entitled to bail,” Daudu submitted.
However, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, strongly opposed the oral application. He cited Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), arguing that bail considerations require affidavit evidence to guide the court’s discretion.
“The factors the court must consider can only be properly placed before it through affidavit evidence from both parties,” Iheanacho said.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite upheld the prosecution’s objection, declined the oral application, and directed both parties to file and argue written bail applications, fixing today for the hearing.
The EFCC had earlier arraigned Malami, his son, and Asabe on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving N9 billion. The case is expected to attract significant public attention as proceedings continue.
Comments