A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7 for ruling on bail applications filed by former AGF Abubakar Malami, his son, and one other in an alleged N8.7bn money laundering case brought by the EFCC
Court Fixes January 7 for Bail Ruling on Abubakar Malami, Son Over N8.7bn EFCC Case
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7 for ruling on the bail applications filed by the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and one other defendant.
The third defendant is Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a firm allegedly linked to the former minister.
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date on Friday after listening to arguments from counsel representing both the defendants and the prosecution in the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case.
Malami and his son are currently being remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, while Hajia Asabe is being held in the female wing of the Suleja Correctional Centre in neighbouring Niger State.
The three defendants are facing a 16-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, Malami and his co-defendants allegedly conspired to disguise the origin of funds estimated at N8.7 billion, acquired properties indirectly, and retained sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
While arguing the bail application, counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), submitted that the offences alleged against his clients were bailable, urging the court to grant them bail on liberal terms, particularly considering the status of the first defendant.
However, prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), while acknowledging that bail lies at the discretion of the court, urged Justice Nwite to refuse bail for the defendants.
Meanwhile, in a separate ruling earlier on Friday, Justice Nwite granted bail in the sum of N500 million to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, in connection with a separate money laundering charge.
The judge held that the prosecution failed to provide compelling reasons that Adamu would jump bail or interfere with the trial, noting that the court’s discretion must be exercised judicially and judiciously.
Justice Nwite ordered Adamu to produce two sureties who must be land owners in Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarinpa districts of Abuja, depose affidavits of means, and deposit their international passports with the court registrar.
The commissioner was also barred from travelling out of Nigeria without court approval and ordered to remain in Kuje Prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The court adjourned Adamu’s case to January 20 for the commencement of trial. Read More
