A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
The order was made by Justice Emeka Nwite following the arraignment of the defendants on a 16-count charge of money laundering filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Nwite directed that the three defendants be remanded in custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications, after listening to submissions from defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
The EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired over several years to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira. According to the commission, the alleged offences involved the use of multiple companies and bank accounts to launder funds and acquire high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and other locations.
In the charge, the anti-graft agency accused Malami and his son of using a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. They were also alleged to have laundered more than N600 million through the same company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The EFCC further alleged that Malami retained N600 million in cash as collateral for a N500 million loan granted by Sterling Bank to Rayhaan Hotels Limited, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
The commission claimed that some of the alleged offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Acts of 2011 and 2022.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court.
Following their pleas, Malami’s counsel made an oral application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. The EFCC urged the court to remand the defendants, citing the gravity of the charges and the need to ensure their presence during trial.
Justice Nwite subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to a later date for the hearing of the bail applications.
The court also indicated that the trial would proceed thereafter, with the EFCC expected to call witnesses, including its officials, bank representatives, and financial experts, to testify in support of the charges.
