The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz, in the sum of N1 billion.
The court also admitted Malami’s wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, to bail in the amount of N500 million.
The ruling was delivered by trial Justice Emeka Nwite, who ordered that each of the defendants must produce two sureties in the same amount as their respective bail sums.
The sureties are required to be owners of landed properties located in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory. The court further directed that valid title documents of the properties be submitted for verification.
In addition, the defendants were ordered to surrender their international travel passports. The court also mandated that the sureties must submit two recent passport photographs and swear to an affidavit of means. Justice Nwite warned that the defendants are not permitted to travel outside Nigeria without prior approval of the court.
Pending the fulfilment of all bail conditions, the court ruled that the defendants should remain in prison custody. The matter was subsequently adjourned to February 17 for the commencement of trial.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.
He was arraigned alongside his son and his wife, who was identified as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a company alleged to have been used to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities through property transactions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged that the defendants laundered public funds amounting to about N9 billion. According to the anti-graft agency, the former Justice Minister allegedly acquired choice properties in several locations, including Abuja, Kebbi and Kano, in an attempt to hide proceeds of crime.
EFCC further told the court that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal more than N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. The same firm was also accused of being used to divert about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The prosecution further alleged that in March 2021, the defendants retained N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd from Sterling Bank, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of crime. The actions, according to the EFCC, violated multiple provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The anti-graft agency indicated that its witnesses would include investigators, bank officials, real estate practitioners and Bureau de Change operators.
What you should know
Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, is standing trial alongside his wife and son over allegations of laundering about N9 billion in public funds.
While the Federal High Court has granted them bail under strict conditions, the charges remain serious and involve complex financial transactions, property acquisitions and alleged breaches of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The case is expected to draw significant public attention as it proceeds to trial.