A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, in correctional facilities pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Naija News reports that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order after the trio were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦8,713,923,759.49.
Malami and his son, listed as the first and third defendants, were ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife, the second defendant, was remanded at the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre.
Their re-arraignment followed the reassignment of the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Abdulmalik.
The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was coming before Justice Abdulmalik for the first time and sought leave for the amended charge to be read.
He drew attention to corrections made in Counts 11 and 12 to align the numeric values with the figures already stated in words.
Counsel to the defendants, J.B. Daudu, SAN, did not object to the amendment but urged the prosecution to formally apply for it.
Justice Abdulmalik granted the request, allowing the correction of the figures in the affected counts.
In Count One, Malami and his son were alleged to have, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank account.
Count Five alleged that the three defendants conspired in September 2024 to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024.
Count Six further alleged that Malami and his son indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through the same Union Bank account between November 2022 and October 2025.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants.
Defence counsel informed the court that the defendants had earlier been granted bail by Justice Nwite and that the conditions had been perfected.
“My Lord, the defendants were granted bail when they were first arraigned before Justice Nwite and the conditions were perfected. They have not flouted any of the conditions. The Federal High Court is one. We pray that the existing bail should continue,” Daudu submitted.
However, the prosecution maintained that the court had the discretion to either adopt the previous bail terms or impose fresh conditions to ensure the defendants’ attendance.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the previous bail was terminated following the reassignment of the case.
“I am of the view that the earlier bail has been terminated. In that wise, I order that fresh bail applications be filed before this court,” she ruled.
The court rejected an oral bail application made by the defence, directing that a formal application be filed, particularly in view of the weight of the allegations.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till March 6, 2026, for hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial, and directed the prosecution to grant defence counsel access to the defendants to enable them prepare for trial.
