Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court has issued a stern warning to parties involved in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and two other defendants, cautioning them against attempting to influence the court in any manner.
The judge gave the warning shortly after delivering his ruling on the bail application filed by the defendants.
Justice Nwite admonished both counsel and litigants to conduct themselves properly, stressing that every court operates on firm principles.
“I want to, as a means, admonish and warn both counsel and litigants. They should know the type of court they are appearing before,” the judge said.
The trial judge emphasised that personal familiarity would not affect judicial decisions, insisting that the law would not be compromised under his watch.
“All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing on any case, please don’t approach me. The best you can do for your client is to get the best lawyers in this country,” he warned.
Justice Nwite further stated that the court would not tolerate any attempt to interfere with justice.
“The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned,” he said.
He cautioned both lawyers and litigants to understand how the court operates, noting that any attempt to undermine its authority would attract severe consequences.
“I want to warn everyone, both litigants and lawyers appearing before this court, they should understand the way this court works. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
“Any attempt to try my will be severely dealt with. I warn! I warn!! And I warn!!!”
Recall that Justice Nwite had admitted Malami to bail in the sum of ₦500 million and two sureties in likes sum pending his trial.
Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir who is an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering to a tune of ₦8.7 billion.
Ruling on the bail application filed by Malami and his codefendants on Wednesday, Justice Nwite also ordered that the two sureties must have landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa districts of Abuja.
He ruled that, the documents of the properties belonging to the sureties are to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court while the sureties are to also depose to affidavit of means.
Malami is to deposit his travelling documents with the Court and must not travel out of the country without the express permission of the court.
Besides, the former AGF and his sureties were also ordered to deposit their two recent passport photograph with the court.
Meanwhile, Malami has been ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
After delivering ruling on the bail application, the trial judge, Justice Nwite fixed February 17, 2026 for commencement of trial in the matter.
The same bail conditions were extended to Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir who is employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The EFCC had slammed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son and wife.
In count one of the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that, “You Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between July 2022 and June 2025, in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the sum of ₦1,014,848,500.00 in a Sterling Bank Plc account, when they reasonably ought to have known that the sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”.
Count five reads: “That you Abubakar Malami, SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, sometime in September 2024, in Abuja, conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024, contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Sections 18(2)(a) and 18(3) of the same Act”.
Count six reads: “That you Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between November 2022 and October 2025, indirectly took control of the aggregate sum of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through the Union Bank Plc savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, when they reasonably ought to have known that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022″.