The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 16 counts of money laundering, concealment and unlawful acquisition of proceeds of crime against former minister of justice, Abubakar Malami.
The former attorney general of the federation is charged alongside an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Malami, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to Premium Times, the charges have been served, but proceedings cannot begin until he enters his plea.
The EFCC is also charging Mr Malami’s first wife, Hajia Asabe.
The commission alleges that between 2015 and 2025, the defendants carried out transactions intended to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira.
The alleged transactions involved bank accounts and property acquisitions in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states.
The EFCC said the actions violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 and 2022.
The charges include allegations of concealing more than N1 billion through Sterling Bank accounts.
The commission also alleged that illicit funds were used as cash collateral for bank loans.
Several high-value properties were allegedly acquired in areas including Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi, Garki and Gwarimpa in Abuja.
According to court documents, the properties were purchased through companies such as Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd and Hamonia Hotels Ltd.
The EFCC said the defendants knowingly retained and disguised funds believed to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
Documents indicate that Mr Malami is linked to 41 properties across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.
The properties are estimated to be worth about N212.89 billion and include hotels, schools, factories and residential buildings.
The properties were identified during EFCC searches of Mr Malami’s homes and offices in Abuja and Kebbi on 17 December.
Mr Malami has described the searches as retaliatory.
The counts are as follows:
Count one alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, Abubakar Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd to conceal N1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Count two states that between September 2020 and February 2021, the duo concealed N600,013,460.40 through the same company.
Count three alleges that in March 2021, Mr Malami and his son retained N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million Sterling Bank loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd.
Count four alleges that in November 2022, Mr Malami, his son and Hajia Asabe concealed N500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja.
Count five states that between November 2022 and September 2024, the trio concealed N1,049,173,926.13 paid through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s Union Bank account.
Count six alleges that between November 2022 and October 2025, Mr Malami and his son took control of N1,362,887,872.96 from the same account, knowing the funds were illicit.
Count seven states that between November and December 2018, Mr Malami and Hajia Asabe concealed N700 million used to purchase No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja, through Hamonia Hotels Ltd.
Count eight alleges that between September and December 2020, Mr Malami, his son and Hajia Asabe concealed N850 million to acquire a property in Jabi District, Abuja, through Meethaq Hotels Ltd.
Count nine states that in February 2018, Mr Malami and Hajia Bashir acquired No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for N430 million from alleged unlawful sources.
Count ten alleges that in February 2018, the pair concealed N210 million used to purchase a property in Asokoro District, Abuja.
Count eleven states that between March and June 2021, they concealed N325 million used to acquire No. 1241B, Asokoro District, Abuja.
Count twelve alleges that between November 2015 and January 2016, the duo concealed N120 million used to purchase No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Count thirteen states that in November 2022, Mr Malami, his son and Hajia Asabe concealed funds used to acquire a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Count fourteen alleges that between December 2016 and April 2022, Mr Malami, Hajia Asabe and others conspired to acquire additional properties for him using proceeds of unlawful activity.
Count fifteen states that between January and June 2023, Mr Malami concealed N537 million used to purchase multiple properties across Abuja, Kebbi and Kano states.
Count sixteen alleges that between October 2018 and December 2021, Mr Malami concealed N415 million used to acquire several properties in Abuja, Kebbi and Kano states.