The trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe continued on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a prosecution witness narrating how millions of naira from individuals and companies flowed into bank accounts linked to a hotel associated with the family.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who is presiding over the case, also granted the three defendants bail in the sum of N200 million each, with strict conditions, pending the continuation of the trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the trio on a 16-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment and laundering of alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8.7 billion.
EFCC witness testifies on bank transactions
At Friday’s proceedings, the first prosecution witness, David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, told the court that the bank provided the EFCC with financial records relating to Rayhaan Hotels Limited and Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited following a request from the anti-graft agency in December 2025.
Ajoma explained that the EFCC requested account opening documents, statements of account and details of a loan facility connected to the two companies.
The prosecution counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), tendered the bank records before the court. Although defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) reserved objections to their admissibility until the final address stage, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the 214-page documents as evidence and marked them Exhibit A series.
According to the witness, the records revealed that Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, the son of the former AGF, applied to Sterling Bank in February 2021 for a N600 million loan facility on behalf of Rayhaan Hotels Limited.
He said the loan was secured with a N600 million fixed deposit created in the account of Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited on February 8, 2021.
Ajoma further told the court that the Rayhaan Hotels account later recorded a N500 million credit on March 17, 2021, representing the loan facility granted by the bank.
Multiple deposits from individuals and firms
While reviewing the bank statements before the court, the witness described a pattern of deposits made by numerous individuals and companies into the Metropolitan Auto Tech account between September 2020 and early 2021.
He said the account received several transfers in quick succession from different sources, including businessmen, enterprises and corporate entities, with many deposits ranging between N3 million and N10 million.
Among the entities and individuals he mentioned were Hussaini Jajaye Rogo Enterprises, Albadawee Integrated Farms, Brown Tech Integrated Services Limited, Nasabuwa General Enterprises, Yawale Global Concept and several others.
Ajoma told the court that the inflows continued over several months, with repeated deposits from some of the same names.
The witness also identified later deposits into the Rayhaan Hotels account itself.
According to him, in January 2024 the account received N19 million from Audu Bashir, N10 million from Audu Police, N11 million from JS Poultry Business Ventures and N50 million from Oboven General Enterprises.
He added that the same company transferred an additional N41.8 million into the account the following day.
The witness further testified that in October 2024 the account received N100 million from Nazhaf Limited, along with another N20 million deposit.
Malami not a signatory to the accounts
However, under cross-examination by the defence, Ajoma clarified that the former Attorney-General himself was not listed as a signatory to the bank accounts in question.
He told the court that Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami was the sole signatory to the Rayhaan Hotels account, while another individual, Aliyu Mohammed, was the signatory to the Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited account.
Ajoma also confirmed that Malami’s name and that of his wife did not appear in the account opening packages for either company.
He further told the court that none of the deposits into the accounts originated from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the EFCC, the National Human Rights Commission or any other government agency that fell under Malami’s supervision when he served as Attorney-General.
According to the witness, Sterling Bank did not file any Suspicious Transaction Report on the accounts with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit or the EFCC because the transactions did not breach Central Bank of Nigeria regulations.
He also stated that he could not determine the purpose of the various deposits made into the accounts.
The witness was later discharged after cross-examination.
Bail granted with strict conditions
Following arguments on bail applications by the defence, Justice Abdulmalik granted bail to Malami, his wife and his son in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that the sureties must own developed landed properties in Maitama or Asokoro, two high-value districts in Abuja, and the documents for the properties must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The sureties are also required to swear affidavits of means and submit passport photographs.
In addition, the defendants were ordered to deposit their international passports with the court and must not travel outside the country without court approval.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Malami and his son be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife is to be held at the Suleja Correctional Centre in neighbouring Niger State.
Allegations involving properties and billions in funds
The EFCC alleges that the defendants committed the offences between November 2015 and June 2025.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged proceeds of unlawful activities were used to acquire multiple luxury properties in Abuja and other locations.
Among the properties listed in the charge are a N500 million duplex on Amazon Street in Maitama, a N700 million property on Onitsha Crescent in Garki, and another property valued at N850 million in Jabi District.
Other properties mentioned include houses in Maitama, Asokoro and Gwarimpa allegedly purchased with hundreds of millions of naira.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to March 16, 2026, when a Union Bank official is expected to testify as the trial continues.
