Court Grants ₦500m Bail Each to Former Minister of Justice ,Wife, Son

By Correspondent in Abuja.

(C) Google.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday admitted former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN; his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe; and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, to bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in his ruling, held that the reasons advanced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in opposing the bail application were not concrete enough to warrant a denial of bail, describing them as largely speculative.

The judge consequently granted bail to the defendants, stipulating that each must produce two sureties who are property owners in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He directed that the title documents of the properties be verified by the Deputy Registrar (Litigation) of the court.

Justice Nwite further ordered the defendants to deposit all their international passports with the Deputy Registrar (Litigation) and restrained them from travelling outside the country without prior permission of the court.

He also directed that the defendants and their sureties must submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registrar, adding that the residential addresses of the sureties must be verified.

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres. The matter was adjourned until January 17 for the commencement of trial.

Our correspondent recalls that the EFCC, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, listed Malami as the first defendant, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, as the second defendant, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, alongside an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a firm linked to the former minister, as defendants.

In the 16-count charge, the anti-graft agency accused the defendants of carrying out several suspicious financial transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states.

The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as AGF under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the EFCC, Malami, his son and Asabe allegedly conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire properties indirectly and retain sums they knew or ought to have known were proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

In count one, the commission alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. Count two alleged that between September 2020 and February 2021, the duo concealed ₦600,013,460.40 through the same company.

Count three alleged that in March 2021, Malami and his son retained ₦600 million as cash collateral for a ₦500 million Sterling Bank loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite allegedly knowing the funds were illicit.

In count four, the EFCC alleged that in November 2022, Malami, his son and Asabe disguised ₦500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja whole count five accused the trio of conspiring between November 2022 and September 2024 to conceal ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s Union Bank account.

Count six alleged that between November 2022 and October 2025, Malami and his son took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 from the same account, knowing the funds were illicit.

In count seven, the commission alleged that between November and December 2018, Malami and Asabe concealed ₦700 million used to purchase No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja, through Hamonia Hotels Ltd.

Count eight alleged that between September and December 2020, the defendants concealed ₦850 million to acquire a property in Jabi District, Abuja, via Meethaq Hotels Ltd.

Count nine alleged that in February 2018, Malami and his wife acquired a property at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for ₦430 million from unlawful sources. Count 10 accused them of concealing ₦210 million in the same month to purchase another property in Asokoro District, Abuja.

In count 11, the EFCC alleged that between March and June 2021, the defendants concealed ₦325 million used to acquire a property at No. 1241B, Asokoro District, Abuja.

Count 12 alleged that between November 2015 and January 2016, they concealed ₦120 million to purchase No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Count 13 alleged that in November 2022, Malami, his son and Asabe conspired to conceal funds used to acquire a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja. Count 14 alleged that between December 2016 and April 2022, the defendants and others conspired to acquire additional properties for Malami using proceeds of unlawful activity.

In count 15, the EFCC alleged that between June 2019 and January 2023, Malami concealed ₦537 million used to purchase multiple properties across Abuja, Kebbi and Kano states. Count 16 alleged that between October 2018 and December 2021, he concealed ₦415 million used to acquire several properties in the same locations.

The EFCC said it intends to call several witnesses, including its staff, bank officials, Bureau de Change operators and other financial experts. Key witnesses listed include Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, Sani Lukeman, Abdulrahman Musa Basheer, Jamilu Mohammed, as well as representatives of Zenith Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc.

According to the commission, Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya and Sani Lukeman are expected to testify on how the EFCC received intelligence reports and petitions alleging monumental corruption against the former minister, while Abdulrahman Musa Basheer will provide evidence on the alleged role of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd in acquiring properties on Malami’s behalf.

Edited by Dada Ahmed.