The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz, on Wednesday secured N1 billion bail from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, also granted bail of N500 million to Malami’s wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, who is also a defendant in the case.
The ruling requires each defendant to present two sureties, each owning landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The sureties must submit title documents for verification, two recent passport photographs, and an affidavit of means. Additionally, all defendants are to surrender their travel passports and are prohibited from leaving the country without court permission.
The court held that the defendants should remain in custody pending the fulfilment of bail conditions. The trial has been adjourned to February 17.
Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, faces a 16-count money laundering charge.
He was arraigned alongside his son and wife, Asabe, who was reportedly employed by Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, allegedly used to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities through property transactions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claims the defendants laundered approximately N9 billion. Between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account.
He and his family were also accused of diverting about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021 and retaining N600 million in March 2021 as collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowing the funds were proceeds of crime.
The defendants are said to have violated multiple provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. Investigators, bank officials, real estate agents, and Bureau de Change operators are among those expected to testify against them.