ABUJA — Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Malami was arraigned alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who is sitting as a vacation judge. The charges centre on allegations that the defendants laundered public funds amounting to about ₦9 billion through bank accounts, corporate entities and property acquisitions across several states.
Following the plea of not guilty entered by both defendants, their counsel, Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, made an oral application requesting that they be admitted to bail pending the determination of the case. The EFCC, however, opposed the application, urging the court to refuse bail and instead order an accelerated hearing of the matter in view of its public interest and the gravity of the allegations.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly breached provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), particularly Section 15(2)(d), an offence punishable under Section 15(3) of the Act. The EFCC alleged that Malami, while serving as Attorney-General, used proceeds of unlawful activities to acquire high-value properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations.
The commission told the court that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son allegedly used a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. The EFCC further alleged that between September 2020 and February 2021, the same company was used to siphon about ₦600 million through the same bank.
In another allegation, the EFCC claimed that in March 2021, the defendants retained ₦600 million as cash collateral through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited for a ₦500 million loan granted by Sterling Bank Plc to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Reading from the charge sheet, the prosecution detailed several counts against the defendants. One of the counts alleged that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500 lodged in a Sterling Bank account, knowing or reasonably expected to know that the funds were proceeds of crime. The offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another count alleged that while Malami was still serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, he and his son concealed ₦600,013,460.40 between September 2020 and February 2021 through the same company and bank account, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
The EFCC further alleged that Malami, his son, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, conspired in November 2022 to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦500 million paid to Efab Properties Ltd for the purchase of a luxury duplex located at Amazon Street, Plot 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama District, Abuja.
According to the prosecution, the funds used for the property acquisition were allegedly proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to Section 18(2)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
The EFCC maintained that the alleged transactions formed part of a broader scheme by the defendants to launder public funds through corporate fronts and property purchases while Malami held public office.
The court is expected to rule on the bail application after hearing arguments from both parties, while the trial is set to proceed with the prosecution calling witnesses to substantiate its case.
The arraignment of the former Attorney-General, who served under the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, has drawn significant public attention, given his former role as the nation’s chief law officer and his influence in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to a later date for ruling on bail and commencement of trial.
