Just in: Court sets fresh date for Malami’s bail hearing

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over allegations of money laundering.

Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), his son Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, are currently standing trial on a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The trio pleaded not guilty when arraigned on December 29, 2025.

Following the plea, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre until January 2, when their written bail application was to be argued by their legal team.

The charges, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, allege that the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds of unlawful activities. According to the EFCC, the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, mainly in the Federal Capital Territory, during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.

The commission claims that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025, and deposited an additional ₦600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.

Real estate acquisitions allegedly bought with illicit funds include:

A duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama (₦500 million)

Property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki (₦700 million)

Property in Jabi District (₦850 million)

Other properties in Rhine Street, Maitama (₦430 million), Asokoro District (₦210 million & ₦325 million), and Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (₦120 million)

The EFCC also alleged that ₦952 million of unlawful proceeds was used to acquire additional properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, often through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.

The commission stated that the defendants’ actions violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Malami, his son, and wife remain in custody as the court awaits the bail hearing on January 7.