A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted nine documentary exhibits in the ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Malami.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, admitted the documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as part of its prosecution of the defendants.
The EFCC is prosecuting the trio on an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, concealment and laundering of funds totalling N8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The exhibits were presented through the fourth prosecution witness, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, Mashelia Bata, during proceedings.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), the witness told the court that he received requests from the EFCC in the course of his duties, seeking documents relating to accounts linked to the defendants and some corporate entities.
He explained that the bank complied by providing both electronic and hard copies of relevant documents tied to accounts belonging to the defendants and companies, including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
Bata said the documents, dated between July 19, 2024 and March 12, 2026, were nine in number and that he could identify them when presented in court.
Despite an objection by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), the court admitted the documents as Exhibits D1 to D9.
During further examination by prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), the witness gave details of transactions contained in the exhibits.
He identified Exhibit D1 as containing account opening documents and statements linked to Abubakar Malami and A.A. Malami & Co, including both naira and dollar accounts.
According to him, one of the accounts showed transactions spanning January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2023, with activity recorded between 2015 and 2023.
The witness stated that total credits into the account between 2016 and 2023 stood at N383,637,211.55, while N560,506,465.12 was recorded between 2012 and 2015.
He added that total debits within the same periods were N384,322,120.85 and N571,891,174.08 respectively.
Providing further breakdown, Bata told the court that the account received N194,791,608 from New Horizons Limited on November 11, 2020, and N622,500,000 from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited on June 24, 2022.
He also disclosed that two separate inflows of N250m each were received from Rayhaan Hotels Limited on July 1 and July 7, 2022, while N500m was credited to the account on December 22, 2022 from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited.
The witness further highlighted multiple transactions running into billions of naira across the accounts.
Following the testimony, defence counsel sought an adjournment to enable adequate study of the exhibits in preparation for cross-examination.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case till May 13, 2026, for continuation of trial and cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness.
