Ex-AGF Malami, Son to Hear Bail Decision Wednesday as EFCC Opposes Release

The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will remain in custody until Wednesday, when the Federal High Court in Abuja will consider his bail application.

Malami, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, faces a 16-count money laundering charge. He was arraigned alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited—a firm allegedly used to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities through property transactions. The defendants are accused of laundering approximately N9 billion in public funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Malami used choice properties in Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano to conceal illicit proceeds. The agency further claimed that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account and siphoned about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.

EFCC also accused the trio of retaining N600 million in March 2021 as cash collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowing the funds were proceeds of crime. The defendants are said to have violated several provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

During proceedings, defense counsel, Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN, requested that the court grant bail, asserting that the allegations were bailable and that the defendants were willing to stand trial. However, EFCC, represented by Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, opposed the application, citing flight risk and the potential to influence witnesses.

After hearing both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Wednesday for a ruling.

Malami was initially detained by EFCC on December 8, 2025, after responding to an agency invitation. He later claimed that an administrative bail previously granted was arbitrarily revoked, alleging the action was politically motivated following his attendance at a political rally in Kebbi State.

Among the charges read in court, Malami and his co-defendants were accused of using various companies and property transactions to conceal and launder sums totaling billions of naira, including:

• Concealing N1.014 billion in Sterling Bank via Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025.
• Using the same firm to hide N600,013,460.40 between September 2020 and February 2021.
• Retaining N600 million as collateral for a N500 million loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd in March 2021.
• Disguising N500 million through property purchases at Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
• Concealing N415 million for multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi between 2018 and 2021.

Opinion Nigeria News