Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (SAN), Abubakar Malami, was reportedly rushed to the Kuje Correctional Centre clinic on Tuesday after suddenly falling ill.
His hospitalization comes amid ongoing fraud allegations involving him, his father, and the latter’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Abdulaziz Malami was admitted to the prison clinic for observation after he suddenly fell ill.
“Malami’s son suddenly fell sick and was rushed to Kuje clinic to stay there for observation,” a prison source said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the Malami family before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The defendants face a 16-count charge of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities totaling N8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the arraignment was to enable the defendants to take their pleas.
Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection, and all three defendants pleaded not guilty.
Court filings reveal that the EFCC alleges the former AGF and his family used front companies, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd, to launder public funds while in office.
One charge states that Malami and his son procured over N1 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd between July 2022 and June 2025 to conceal the origin of funds in a Sterling Bank account.
Another count accuses Malami of using N600 million as collateral to secure a loan for Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite allegedly knowing the money was suspicious.
Other counts allege the defendants used properties and Bureau De Change operators to disguise payments for high-end properties across Abuja and Kano, including luxury duplexes, hotel properties, and other real estate worth hundreds of millions of naira.
In documents submitted as Proof of Evidence, the EFCC listed witnesses, including its officials, Bureau De Change operators, and bankers.
The anti-graft agency said these witnesses would testify on how petitions and intelligence reports triggered investigations into what it described as “monumental corruption” allegedly linked to the former minister.
A witness, Hassan Aliyu, reportedly said; “My company’s account was used for suspicious multi-million-naira transactions without my full knowledge.”
Abubakar Malami and his co-defendants are repeatedly being held in a VIP cell at Kuje Prison, reportedly refurbished by the late Abba Kyari.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, all three maintain their innocence.
“We are not guilty of the charges,” Abdulaziz Malami’s defence team said in court, forcing the matter to proceed to full trial.
The Federal High Court has scheduled a bail hearing for the Malami family on January 2, 2026.