THE Federal Government has instituted 16 money laundering charges amounting to ₦1.014 billion against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also named as a co-defendant is Hajia Bashir Asabe.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of laundering and concealing ₦1,014,848,500 allegedly traced to a commercial bank account.
The government claims that between July 2022 and June 2025, within Abuja, the accused used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited as a front to disguise the origin and movement of funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Prosecutors allege that the transactions violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as earlier legislation, depending on the period of the alleged offences. The offences are said to be punishable under relevant sections of the law.
The charges detail multiple alleged transactions involving large sums of money, including the use of company accounts, cash collateral for bank loans, and payments for the acquisition of several high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi State.
The government further alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal the source of funds used in purchasing luxury properties in areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Garki, Gwarimpa, and Jabi.
In several counts, the prosecution claims that Malami, while serving as Attorney-General, directly or indirectly retained, controlled, or concealed funds believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, often through intermediaries and corporate entities.
The charges also accuse the defendants of conspiring over several years to acquire landed properties with illicit funds.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.