The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, arraigned the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged money laundering involving N8.71 billion.
The trio faces a 16-count charge alleging conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was for the defendants’ arraignment and requested that the charges be read to them and pleas recorded. Counsel to the defendants, J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection.
The charges include allegations that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025, used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion in a Sterling Bank account, and that all three defendants conspired to disguise the origin of over N1 billion paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited between November 2022 and September 2024. Other counts allege that the duo took control of more than N1.36 billion, knowing it constituted proceeds of unlawful activities.
Following the arraignment, the prosecution declared readiness for trial and noted that it had been served with a bail application by the defence a day earlier, seeking time to respond. Daudu urged the court to grant bail orally, arguing that the offences were bailable and cited legal precedent. Iheanacho opposed the oral bail request, stressing that submissions cannot replace affidavit evidence and highlighting public interest considerations due to the complexity and magnitude of the alleged economic crimes.
Justice Nwite ruled that the prosecution must be given adequate opportunity to respond to the bail application. He ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for hearing of the bail application.
