NIGERIA: Court Remands Ex-AGF Malami, Wife, Son Over Alleged N8.7bn Fraud

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik directed that Malami and his son be held at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, while his wife was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Facility in Niger State pending the hearing of their bail applications.

The order followed their re-arraignment on a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the defendants of laundering funds through the acquisition of properties in Abuja and other parts of the country during Malami’s tenure as Minister of Justice.

Before the charges were read, prosecuting counsel Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) sought corrections to some figures contained in the charge.

He said: “The sums listed in counts 11 and 12 should read N325 million instead of N325 billion, and N120 million instead of N120 billion.”

After the defendants pleaded not guilty, defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) requested that the court adopt earlier bail conditions granted by another Federal High Court judge.

Justice Abdulmalik declined the request, insisting that her court was not bound by proceedings conducted elsewhere and directing that formal bail applications be filed for each defendant.

The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until March 6 for hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial.

Malami and his son were also arraigned on a separate five-count charge instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), bordering on alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms.

According to the charge, the former AGF allegedly failed to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers while serving in office and was further accused, alongside his son, of keeping firearms and ammunition without lawful authorisation at their residence in Kebbi State.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following an application by defence counsel, the court granted Malami and Abdulaziz bail.

Justice Abdulmalik admitted each defendant to bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties each.

She ordered that one surety must possess landed property in Maitama or Asokoro within Abuja and deposit the title documents with the court.

The judge further directed the defendants to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs, while the sureties must file affidavits of means.

Trial in the terrorism-related case is sc

heduled to commence on March 4.