The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN for alleged money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Malami alongside his son and Asabe Bashir, an employee of a firm allegedly linked to the former minister are facing sixteen counts change.
The trio pleaded not guilty to all the 16 counts that alleged them of money laundering and illegitimate accumulation of wealth.
The charge included suspicious accumulation and frantic efforts to conceal the alleged illicit origins of multi-billion naira worth of assets in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.
Prosecution alleged that the offences violated provisions of Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2022.
The charges include large-scale money laundering and the illegal acquisition of properties worth over N8.7 billion.
The charge, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, accused the defendants of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities.
The indictment claimed that they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly ten years to indirectly acquire the illicit funds.
The charge sheet stated that the alleged offences took place between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s time as the country’s Attorney-General.
The EFCC claimed that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025. They are also accused of depositing an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The properties in question include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, bought for N700 million; and another in Jabi District for N850 million. Additional acquisitions include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million); and at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million).
The EFCC further alleges that Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023. These acquisitions were allegedly made through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.
The former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and two others are to be remanded in Kuje Correctional facility pending the ruling of the court on the defendants bail application.
The matter has been adjourned 2nd January, 2026.