A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son, and one of his wives in Kuje Correctional Centre. The order, issued by Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday, marks a dramatic escalation in one of the most high-profile corruption cases initiated by the current administration, targeting a key figure from the previous government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Malami alongside his son, Abubakar Malami, and wife, Asabe Bashir, on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering. The allegations centre on the concealment, retention, and disguise of proceeds from unlawful activities, amounting to billions of naira.
The prosecution counsel, Ekele Ihenacho (SAN), detailed to the court that the alleged offences involve a complex web of financial transactions spanning several years. According to the charge sheet, Malami and his co-defendants are accused of utilising a network of companies and bank accounts to launder funds. One specific allegation is the retention of huge sums of cash, reportedly running into billions, as collateral for loans—a method financial experts say is a classic technique for obscuring the origin of illicit funds.
Crucially, the EFCC alleges that some of these financial crimes were committed during Malami’s tenure as the nation’s chief law officer, between 2015 and 2023. The charges are brought under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the more recent Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. If proven, this would represent a profound breach of public trust, given the AGF’s central role in coordinating the nation’s legal framework against such crimes.
“The defendants are accused of acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and other prime locations with the proceeds of these alleged activities,” a source familiar with the charges revealed. These assets, the EFCC contends, form part of the vast scheme to disguise the origin of the funds.
In the courtroom, Malami and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defence team, led by another former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Joseph Daudu (SAN), immediately applied for their bail. Justice Nwite, however, ordered their remand in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of the formal bail application. This decision underscores the court’s view of the severity of the allegations.
The case has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political and legal establishments. Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was not just a minister but a central pillar of the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s legal and anti-corruption agenda. His prosecution by the very agencies he once oversaw is being interpreted by political analysts as a significant, albeit contentious, move by President Bola Tinubu’s government to demonstrate that no one is above the law.
“This case is a major test for Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions,” said Dr. Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative. “It sends a powerful message about accountability, but its ultimate credibility will depend entirely on a transparent, evidence-based judicial process, free from political interference.”
Public reaction has been sharply divided. While many citizens hail the arrest as long-overdue accountability for powerful elites, others express cynicism, viewing it as selective justice and political vendetta. “The real test is if this leads to a conviction and recovery of assets, or if it fizzles out after the headlines,” commented a financial analyst who requested anonymity.
Justice Emeka Nwite has adjourned the case for the hearing of the bail application. As the former AGF awaits his fate in Kuje, the nation watches, waiting to see if this case will mark a genuine turning point in Nigeria’s protracted battle against grand corruption or become another chapter in its complex political saga. The journey through the courts has just begun, with the weight of immense public and legal scrutiny upon it.
