A high court in Abuja has fixed 7 January to rule on the bail applications of Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife, and their son.
Mr Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday alongside his wife, Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz.
The trio face charges of money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following allegations of “suspicious transactions” involving billions of naira.
Allegations of ‘concealed’ wealth
The anti-graft agency alleges that the former minister and his family members conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of massive funds through various bank accounts and the acquisition of luxury properties.
The properties in question are located across the capital, Abuja, as well as the northern states of Kano and Kebbi.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2025—a decade that spans Mr Malami’s tenure as the nation’s chief law officer under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The legal battle
During Friday’s proceedings, defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) argued for the defendants to be granted bail pending their trial. However, the EFCC’s legal team, led by Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), presented arguments opposing the applications.
The prosecution contends that the funds were the “proceeds of unlawful activity” and that the family violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 and 2022.
A high-profile trial
Mr Malami was one of the most powerful figures in the previous administration, serving as Attorney-General for eight years. His prosecution is being closely watched as a major test for the current government’s anti-corruption drive.
Justice Nwite has ordered that the defendants remain in custody until the ruling on their bail applications next Tuesday.
The Malami family has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with their legal team previously describing the charges as an attempt to “criminalise legitimate earnings.”
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