A Federal High Court in Abuja has set January 7 to hear the bail application of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is being prosecuted for alleged money laundering.
Malami is currently remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre alongside two other defendants, his son, Abdulaziz (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria), and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, after they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.
The trio is facing a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which alleges they laundered ₦8.7 billion. They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.
The order was made on Friday, January 2, by Justice Emeka Nwite after he heard arguments from both sides on the bail requests filed by Malami and his son.
Justice Nwite also directed that his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, identified as a staff member of Ramadiya Property Limited and a co-defendant in the case, should remain in custody pending the January 7 ruling.
The judge said he could not deliver the bail ruling immediately because he had several other decisions to give as a vacation judge.
At the hearing, Joseph Daudu, SAN, argued the bail applications for the three defendants, while Emmanuel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, opposed them on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Following their plea, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje pending the hearing of their bail request.
The court had earlier fixed January 2, 2026, for arguments on their written bail application, but the bail hearing is now slated for January 7.
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In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring to conceal, disguise and retain proceeds said to be derived from illegal activities.
The commission alleged that the funds were routed through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities and property transactions over about a decade.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, largely in Abuja, and during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.
The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal N1.014 billion lodged in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025.
They were also accused of paying in an additional ₦600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The commission listed several properties it said were acquired in the process, including a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, bought for ₦500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, purchased for ₦700 million; and another in Jabi District acquired for ₦850 million.
Other assets cited include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (₦430 million); properties in Asokoro District (₦210 million and ₦325 million); and a property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (₦120 million).
The EFCC further alleged that unlawful proceeds totaling ₦952 million were used to acquire additional properties in Abuja, Kano and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, claiming the purchases were made through proxies and corporate entities to mask ownership.
The commission said the alleged conduct violates the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.