A Federal High Court in Maitama has ordered the further detention of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami and his wife Bashir Asabe, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending a ruling on their bail applications.
Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, January 2, 2026, adjourned the hearing until January 7, 2026, after lengthy legal arguments from both defence and prosecution counsel on whether the trio should be granted bail.
The defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering and related offences involving about ₦8.7 billion, brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The counts include conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Malami, his son and his wife pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025. Following their plea, Justice Nwite ordered their initial remand at Kuje pending the hearing of their bail application — which was initially fixed for January 2 but later postponed to January 7 for a ruling.
During Friday’s proceedings, defence counsel argued that the offences were bailable and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, urging the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms. The prosecution, however, opposed the applications, contending that the allegations — including claims that the first and second defendants could interfere with witnesses and evidence — have not been controverted.
Justice Nwite noted the volume of work before the court during the ongoing vacation session but assured that justice would be served expeditiously. The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to January 7 for the delivery of the bail ruling.
The case has continued to attract widespread public interest, with media reports highlighting intense courtroom exchanges and heightened security presence during recent hearings.
