EFCC Arraigns Ex-Attorney General Malami, Wife, Son Over Alleged ₦8.7bn Money Laundering

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Attorney General Malami, Wife, Son Over Alleged ₦8.7bn Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, arraigned the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over alleged money laundering offences totaling ₦8,713,923,759.49.

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The defendants appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was for arraignment and requested that the charge be read and pleas taken. Defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection, prompting Justice Nwite to order the charges to be read.

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences span transactions involving multiple companies and bank accounts between 2022 and 2025. One of the charges alleges that Malami and his son procured a firm, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal the unlawful origin of over ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. Another count accuses Malami, his son, and his wife of conspiring to disguise more than ₦1.04 billion allegedly laundered through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited.

Further counts allege that Malami and his son indirectly took control of over ₦1.36 billion in funds believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of the Act.

After the defendants entered their pleas, the prosecution announced readiness to proceed to trial and requested a trial date. Iheanacho disclosed that the prosecution had been served with a bail application by the defence a day earlier and sought time to respond.

In response, defence counsel urged the court to grant bail orally, arguing that the offences were bailable and that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) does not require bail applications to be made only in writing. The prosecution opposed the oral application, insisting that bail applications must be supported by affidavit evidence and warning that granting bail orally would prejudice the prosecution.

Addressing the court, Iheanacho stressed the seriousness of the charges, noting that the case involved complex financial transactions and raised significant public interest concerns. He added that Malami’s former position as Attorney-General did not entitle him to special consideration.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution must be given adequate opportunity to respond to the bail application. He consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for hearing of the bail application.

The case marks one of the most high-profile prosecutions involving a former chief law officer of the federation, drawing national attention as proceedings continue.

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Attorney General Malami, Wife, Son Over Alleged ₦8.7bn Money Laundering