A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged money laundering offences.
The court also ordered that Malami’s son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, be remanded alongside him pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
The order was made on Tuesday by the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, after listening to arguments from both the defence and the prosecution.
Malami’s legal team was led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), while the prosecution was represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN) on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former justice minister and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, filed against them by the anti-graft agency.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired over several years to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to billions of naira.
The commission further alleged that the accused persons used companies and multiple bank accounts to launder the funds, retained large sums of cash as collateral for loans, and acquired high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations across the country.
The EFCC also claimed that some of the alleged offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Malami and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned for the hearing of their bail application.
