January 02, (THEWILL) — A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the hearing in the bail application filed by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe.
THEWILL reports that Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to January 7, 2026, following sharp legal exchanges between the prosecution and defence teams over alleged delays in the proceedings and claims bordering on possible interference with witnesses.
Malami, his son, and the third defendant are standing trial on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering involving the sum of ₦8.7 billion, preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of laundering the sum of ₦8.7 billion through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over a period of nearly ten years.
The EFCC alleged that the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, largely within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s tenure as the nation’s Attorney-General.
Part of the prosecution’s case is that Malami and his son allegedly used a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025. They were also accused of depositing an additional ₦600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The commission further alleged that the defendants used proceeds of unlawful activities to acquire several high-value properties in Abuja. These include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, reportedly purchased for ₦500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, acquired for ₦700 million; and another property in the Jabi District valued at ₦850 million.
Other properties listed in the charge include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama, allegedly bought for ₦430 million; properties in Asokoro District valued at ₦210 million and ₦325 million; and a property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, acquired for ₦120 million.
The EFCC also claimed that Malami allegedly used unlawful proceeds totalling ₦952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, using proxies and corporate entities to conceal ownership.
The anti-graft agency maintained that the alleged actions contravene the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025. Following their pleas, Justice Nwite ordered that they be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications, which were initially fixed for January 2, 2026.
At Friday’s proceedings, counsel to the prosecution and the defence engaged in arguments over the conduct of the case, with the court noting the need to ensure due process and a fair hearing for all parties.
Consequently, the trial judge adjourned further consideration of the bail applications to January 7, 2026, and ordered that the defendants be returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the next hearing.
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