A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7, 2026, to rule on the bail applications of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, in a high-profile money laundering case involving alleged illicit funds totalling N8.7 billion.
Justice Emeka Nwite announced the date on Friday, January 2, after hearing arguments from the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The defendants, who have been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre since their arraignment, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, centres on 16 counts of money laundering brought by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency accuses the trio of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds of unlawful activities between 2015 and 2025, a period largely coinciding with Malami’s eight-year tenure as Nigeria’s chief law officer under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Specific allegations include using corporate entities such as Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, and Meethaq Hotels Ltd to launder funds through bank accounts and acquire luxury properties in premium districts of Abuja, as well as in Kano and Kebbi States. For instance, the EFCC claims that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts.
Other counts detail the indirect acquisition of high-value real estate, including a duplex in Maitama District purchased for N500 million in November 2022, and properties in Asokoro and Jabi Districts worth hundreds of millions of naira, allegedly disguised through proxies. The charges cite violations of Sections 15, 18, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022, which criminalise the concealment, retention, and indirect acquisition of illicit funds.
Hajia Bashir Asabe, described in court documents as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd and sometimes referred to as Malami’s wife, is accused of facilitating several transactions to mask beneficial ownership.
The defendants were arraigned on December 30, 2025, following investigations that led to Malami’s detention by the EFCC since early December. After taking their pleas, Justice Nwite initially adjourned for bail hearing on January 2 but, upon adopting written processes and oral submissions, reserved ruling for January 7 to allow thorough consideration.
This case marks a significant development in Nigeria’s anti-corruption landscape. The EFCC, under Chairman Ola Olukoyede, has intensified probes into high-profile figures from previous administrations, recovering substantial assets in recent years. In 2024 alone, the commission secured over 3,000 convictions and recovered assets worth trillions of naira, according to its annual reports.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kebbi State, served as AGF throughout Buhari’s presidency, overseeing key legal reforms and controversial decisions, including asset recoveries and international litigations such as the P&ID case. Past allegations of impropriety during his tenure were often dismissed or left unresolved, making this prosecution notable for its scale and the direct involvement of family members.
The outcome of the bail applications will determine whether the defendants remain in custody pending full trial. Legal experts note that bail in money laundering cases is discretionary, often weighed against flight risk, concerns about evidence tampering, and the gravity of the allegations. The EFCC has opposed bail in similar high-profile cases to ensure defendants’ availability.
