Former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and their son Abdulaziz Malami have been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja in connection with money laundering charges.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik approved bail for each defendant on Friday, March 6, setting the amount at ₦200 million with two sureties each in the same sum.
The bail terms require one surety per defendant to provide title documents for property situated in Maitama or Asokoro, two upscale neighborhoods in the nation’s capital.
In addition, the defendants must also surrender their international passports to the court.
Until they meet the bail requirements, all three will remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judge adjourned the case to March 16, 2026, when trial proceedings are scheduled to begin.
First Daily reports that the charges stem from allegations that Malami and his family laundered approximately ₦8.7 billion using a series of companies and real estate transactions.
Prosecutors claim the defendants worked together to hide illicit money through businesses such as Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Limited, and used the proceeds to buy expensive properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states.
The case has been reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik after previous judges either withdrew from the matter or transferred it.
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In addition to the money laundering case, Malami and his son are facing separate charges related to terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
The allegations include a claim that Malami, while serving as Attorney General, failed to act on case files involving suspected terrorism financiers that were sent to his office in November 2022.
They are also accused of unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum firearm and ammunition, including 16 live cartridges and 27 expended cartridges, allegedly found at their home in Birnin Kebbi in December 2025.
On March 4, 2026, the Attorney General of the Federation’s office, led by Lateef Fagbemi, took over prosecution of that case from the State Security Service.
The matter has been adjourned to March 10, 2026, to allow the new prosecution team time to review the files.
Malami’s legal challenges also include asset forfeiture proceedings. A Federal High Court has already ordered the interim seizure of 57 properties connected to him, with an estimated value of around ₦213 billion.
The former AGF recently joined the African Democratic Congress after leaving the All Progressives Congress.
Some of his allies have suggested the charges against him are politically motivated and tied to his defection from the ruling party.
Trial in the money laundering case is set to commence on March 16, 2026.