The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail totaling ₦1.5 billion to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abdulaziz, in an ongoing money laundering prosecution instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the ruling, approved the bail applications but imposed strict conditions, citing the gravity of the allegations and the need to ensure the defendants’ availability for trial. The court admitted Malami to bail in the sum of ₦1 billion, while his wife was granted bail of ₦500 million. Their son, Abdulaziz, was also covered under the bail arrangement.
As part of the conditions, each defendant is required to provide two sureties who must own verifiable landed property located in high-value areas of the Federal Capital Territory, specifically Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. The court directed that title documents for the properties be submitted for scrutiny and authentication.
Justice Nwite further ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports to the court and prohibited them from travelling outside Nigeria without prior judicial approval. In addition, the sureties are required to submit two recent passport photographs and swear to affidavits of means, confirming their financial capacity to stand as guarantors.
The court ruled that the defendants would remain in correctional facility custody until all bail conditions are fully met. The case was subsequently adjourned to February 17 for the commencement of trial.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Justice from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering. He was arraigned alongside his wife and son following investigations by the EFCC into alleged financial crimes involving public funds.
According to the anti-graft agency, Hajia Asabe is linked to Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a real estate company allegedly used to launder illicit proceeds through property acquisitions. The EFCC claims the defendants collectively laundered public funds estimated at approximately ₦9 billion.
Court filings allege that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal more than ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account. The EFCC further accused them of diverting about ₦600 million through the same company between September 2020 and February 2021.
In another allegation, the commission stated that the defendants retained ₦600 million in March 2021 as cash collateral for a ₦500 million loan secured by Rayhaan Hotels Limited from Sterling Bank, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The EFCC maintains that the actions of the defendants contravene several provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. The prosecution disclosed that its witnesses will include law enforcement investigators, banking officials, real estate practitioners, and bureau de change operators, all expected to testify as the trial progresses.
The case marks one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former top government official, with significant legal and political implications as proceedings continue.
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