₦9.5bn Money Laundering Case: Ex-AGF Malami, Wife, Son, Others Remanded in Kuje
Nigeria’s legal and political space was jolted on Tuesday as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, alongside his wife, son, and other defendants, at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The ruling followed their arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite in connection with an extensive money laundering prosecution instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer for eight years, appeared in court with his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited. They are standing trial together with several corporate entities over a 16 count charge bordering on money laundering, concealment of illicit proceeds, and the unlawful acquisition of high value properties allegedly worth about ₦9.5 billion.
Proceedings attracted widespread attention as prosecutors outlined what they described as a carefully orchestrated pattern of financial misconduct spanning more than a decade. According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly used multiple corporate vehicles, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Limited, to obscure the source of substantial funds. One of the counts alleges the concealment of over ₦1 billion lodged in a Sterling Bank account between 2022 and 2025, while another details the alleged use of ₦500 million to purchase a luxury duplex located on Amazon Street in Maitama, Abuja, purportedly for the benefit of the former Attorney General. The prosecution contends that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities laundered through a series of real estate transactions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi States.
Following the plea taking, counsel for the defendants, led by Joseph Daudu SAN, sought to move an oral application for bail. Justice Nwite declined the request, ruling that granting bail at that stage would prejudice the prosecution, which had only been served the written applications a few hours earlier and required adequate time to respond. The court consequently ordered that Malami and his co defendants be remanded in custody and adjourned the bail hearing to January 2, 2026.
The development has ignited robust public debate, with several commentators describing the arraignment as a stark illustration of the accountability principle. Public figures such as Kingsley Moghalu and Chidi Odinkalu have noted that the case underscores the impermanence of power and the inescapability of the rule of law. Former senator Dino Melaye, who faced prosecution during Malami’s tenure as Attorney General, also weighed in, remarking that the episode highlights how swiftly roles can reverse within Nigeria’s political and legal arena.
As the EFCC prepares to present its witnesses, including bank officials, bureau de change operators, and forensic experts, the trial is being closely watched nationwide. The outcome is expected to test the strength of Nigeria’s anti corruption framework and could represent a defining moment in efforts to enforce accountability at the highest levels of public service.
- Pastor Donnie McClurkin of Perfect Faith Church Faces Sexual Assault Allegations
- Nigerian Marketers Expect Cheaper Fuel Price as Dangote Refinery Action Looms
- Elon Musk’s Grok Under Fire as X Faces Scrutiny Over Adult and Minor Images
- Massive Relief: Nigerian Students Get Over ₦160bn Support from NELFUND
- Abuja Court Orders EFCC to Confiscate N30.7M Alleged NNPC Fraud