The Federal Government has filed fresh money laundering charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding ₦1 billion.
The new charges, contained in a 16-count charge suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, are marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant, while Hajia Bashir Asabe is named as a co-defendant.
According to court documents, the defendants are accused of handling, transferring, and concealing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Investigators reportedly traced a total sum of ₦1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account linked to the alleged transactions.
The prosecution claims the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which was allegedly used as a front to disguise the origin and movement of the money.
It is further alleged that between 2015 and 2025, several properties were acquired in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states using illicit funds. The properties reportedly include luxury residences in prime locations such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Jabi, with some purchases said to have been made while Malami was serving as Attorney-General.
One of the charges alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful source of over ₦1.014 billion, an offence said to contravene the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge sheet also details the alleged use of bank accounts, hotel businesses, and real estate firms to retain, transfer, or disguise large sums of money, including payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes, and landed properties. Prosecutors argue that the defendants “ought reasonably to have known” that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and faced several corruption allegations during his tenure, all of which he consistently denied.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted Malami interim bail in a separate case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ordered him to surrender his international passport and comply with existing bail conditions, including the provision of two sureties.
The matter has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
