NIGERIA: Court Remands Ex-AGF Malami, Son, Wife In Kuje Over Alleged N8.7bn Money Laundering

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, his son, and wife in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications, following their arraignment on 16 counts of money laundering involving over N8.7 billion.

Justice Abdulaziz Anka issued the remand order during Tuesday’s court sitting after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission formally charged the defendants with conspiring to conceal and disguise illicit funds through corporate entities and property acquisitions.

Malami, alongside his son and an associate often referred to as his wife in court documents, pleaded not guilty to all counts, but the court directed their detention at Kuje until the next adjourned date for bail arguments.

The charges, filed by the EFCC last week, accuse the trio of violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 through the use of companies like Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder sums exceeding N1 billion between 2020 and 2021. Specific counts allege that Malami and his son concealed N600 million in one instance and over N1 billion in another, funnelled through accounts and used for high-value property purchases.

Prosecutors detailed how the funds, of suspected unlawful origin, were disguised via intermediaries and corporate fronts.

Lead prosecutor Wahab Shittu argued for remand citing the gravity of the offences and flight risk, while defence counsel Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, urged the court to consider Malami’s status as a senior advocate and former minister, requesting administrative bail. Justice Anka, however, ruled for custodial remand, adjourning to January 5, 2026, for bail hearing and trial commencement.

The case stems from investigations into Malami’s tenure as AGF from 2015 to 2023, where he oversaw major anti-corruption efforts but now faces scrutiny over personal financial dealings.

EFCC sources claim the probe uncovered suspicious transactions linked to public funds, though details remain sealed pending trial.

Reactions have poured in, with civil society groups like Transparency International Nigeria calling it a litmus test for the administration’s anti-graft commitment, while Malami’s supporters decry it as a political witch-hunt.

The ex-AGF’s office had earlier accused the EFCC of media trial and rights violations in a statement denying bail compliance.

As the trial looms, legal experts predict a protracted battle, given Malami’s influence and the high stakes involved.

The EFCC maintains that the 16-count charges are evidence-based, vowing to pursue justice without fear or favour.