By Adesakin Adefemi
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and wife Hajia Bashir Asabe have secured N600m bail in a money laundering case. The Federal High Court in Abuja granted the bail on Friday, with Justice Joyce Abdulmalik setting the bail amount at N200m each, with two sureties in like sum.
The defendants are alleged to have laundered public funds totalling about N9bn. The court ordered that one of the sureties must provide title documents of a property located in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The defendants were also ordered to surrender their international passports and not travel outside the country without permission. Justice Abdulmalik held that the defendants should remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned to March 16 for the commencement of trial. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, had in a bid to hide his proceeds of crime, resorted to acquiring choice properties in various cities and states, including Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano.
The EFCC told the court that the defendants had between July 2022 and June 2025, used a firm- Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited- to conceal over N1.01bn in a Sterling Bank account. They were further accused of using the same company to siphon about N600m between September 2020 and February 2021.
The defendants were said to have acted in breach of several provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. Among those billed to testify against them were investigators, bank officials, real estate agents, and Bureau de Change operators.
Malami is also facing a five-count charge of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms, which the Department of State Services (DSS) filed against him and his son. He was arrested and detained by the DSS after he perfected all the bail conditions in the case the EFCC entered against him and was released from prison custody.
The court’s decision has sparked reactions, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the case. The EFCC has vowed to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
The outcome of the case is being closely watched, and it remains to be seen how it will impact Malami’s future and reputation. One thing is certain, however – the EFCC is determined to see this case through to its conclusion.
The case is a test of the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and holding public officials accountable. The world is watching, and Nigerians are eager to see justice served.
