A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), along with his son and one of his wives, remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail application in a high-profile alleged fraud and money laundering case.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, after the trio pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court has scheduled the formal hearing of their bail application for January 7, 2026.
The EFCC’s charge sheet, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, accuses Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe l, described in court documents as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, of conspiracy, procuring, concealing, disguising, retaining, and laundering the proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to over ₦8.7 billion.
According to prosecution allegations, the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, largely within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s tenure as the nation’s chief law officer.
Among the specific counts, the EFCC alleges that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025 and that an additional ₦600.01 million was deposited into the same account between September 2020 and February 2021.l
Prosecutors further allege that proceeds from these transactions and others were used to acquire numerous high-value properties in and around Abuja. These include: a luxury duplex in Maitama worth ₦500 million; a ₦700 million property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki; a ₦850 million property in Jabi District; and a properties on Rhine Street, Maitama (₦430 million), in Asokoro District (₦210 million and ₦325 million), and in Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (₦120 million).
The EFCC also contends that approximately ₦952 million in unlawful proceeds was used to acquire additional properties in Abuja, Kano and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023.
The commission says these actions contravene the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
After the charges were read, all three defendants entered a not guilty plea. The defence team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu, then sought bail for their clients. However, Justice Nwite declined to grant the oral bail application at that stage, explaining that allowing it without the prosecution’s response would “amount to ambushing the prosecution,” and would compromise fairness in the proceedings. The judge noted that a written bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution that same day, and the prosecution must have an opportunity to respond before the court could consider the application.
As a result, the bail hearing has been adjourned to January 7, 2026, when the Federal High Court will rule on whether the defendants can be released on bail pending the continuation of the trial.
The case represents one of the most closely watched prosecutorial actions involving a former national official in Nigeria’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts. Malami, who served as AGF and Justice Minister from 2015 to 2023, faces not only legal jeopardy but intense public scrutiny as proceedings unfold.
