A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife and son in correctional custody pending the determination of fresh bail applications.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik directed that Malami and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, be returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, was remanded at the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre.
Re-Arraignment on Amended Charges
The trio were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, disguising and laundering of alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49.
The case was reassigned from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Abdulmalik, prompting the fresh proceedings.
At the commencement of the hearing, prosecution counsel, Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was appearing before Justice Abdulmalik for the first time and sought leave to read the amended charges to the defendants.
He also notified the court of corrections made to Counts 11 and 12 to align numeric figures with the amounts already stated in words.
Counsel to the defendants, J.B. Daudu, SAN, did not oppose the amendment but urged the prosecution to make a formal application. The court subsequently granted the request to amend the affected counts.
Details of the Charges
In one of the counts, Malami and his son were alleged to have, between July 2022 and June 2025, procured a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal the alleged unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank Plc account, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another count alleged that Malami, his son and his wife conspired in September 2024 to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through a Union Bank Plc account belonging to Meethaq Hotels Limited in Jabi, Abuja.
The charges further alleged that between November 2022 and October 2025, Malami and his son indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid into the same account, funds the prosecution claims were proceeds of unlawful activities.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge.
Bail Dispute
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in correctional custody.
The defence counsel, however, informed the court that the defendants had earlier been granted bail by Justice Emeka Nwite when they were first arraigned and that all bail conditions had been perfected.
“My Lord, the defendants were granted bail when they were first arraigned before Justice Nwite and the conditions were perfected. They have not flouted any of the conditions. The Federal High Court is one. We pray that the existing bail should continue,” the defence submitted.
In response, the prosecution acknowledged that bail had previously been granted but argued that the court retained discretion either to adopt the earlier bail conditions or impose fresh ones to ensure the defendants’ attendance.
Court Orders Fresh Bail Applications
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the earlier bail was terminated following the reassignment of the case and that the defendants must file fresh bail applications before her court.
“I am of the view that the earlier bail has been terminated. In that wise, I order that fresh bail applications be filed before this court,” she ruled.
An oral bail application by the defence was rejected, with the court directing that a formal written application be submitted, given the gravity of the allegations.
The judge further ordered the prosecution to grant defence counsel access to the defendants to enable adequate preparation for trial.
The matter was adjourned to March 6, 2026, for hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial.
Legal Implications
The case marks a significant development in ongoing anti-corruption prosecutions involving high-profile public officials.
If convicted under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the defendants could face substantial penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
Legal analysts note that the court’s decision to require fresh bail applications underscores judicial discretion in cases where proceedings are reassigned, even within the same court division.
The outcome of the upcoming bail hearing will determine whether the defendants remain in custody pending trial or regain conditional freedom as the case progresses.
