A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre while awaiting the hearing of his bail application.
The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite, who also directed that Malami’s co-accused, his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, be kept in custody pending further proceedings.
The ruling followed submissions from both parties, with the defence led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
The defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC alleges that the defendants jointly engaged in a series of transactions aimed at concealing, retaining, and disguising proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.
According to the charge, the alleged offences were carried out over a number of years and involved the use of multiple companies and bank accounts to launder funds. The commission further claims that large sums of cash were kept as collateral for loans, while high-value properties were acquired in Abuja, Kano, and other locations across the country.
The EFCC also alleges that some of the infractions occurred while Malami was serving as the Attorney-General of the Federation, in violation of the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
