₦8.7B Fraud Scandal: Malami, Wife & Son Remanded In Prison

A Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, in correctional facilities pending the hearing of their bail applications.

According to Ireporter Online, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order following the re-arraignment of the trio by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 16-count charge relating to alleged money laundering totaling ₦8.71 billion. Malami and his son were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife was remanded at the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre.

The re-arraignment came after the case was reassigned from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Abdulmalik. The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

During proceedings, prosecution counsel Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, requested that the amended charge be read, highlighting corrections to the numeric values in Counts 11 and 12 to match the figures written in words. Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, did not object but asked the prosecution to formally apply for the amendment, which the court granted.

Count One alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, Malami and his son procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank account. Count Five claims the defendants conspired in September 2024 to disguise the origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024. Count Six further alleges that Malami and his son indirectly controlled ₦1,362,887,872.96 through the same account between November 2022 and October 2025. All three pleaded not guilty.

Following the pleas, the prosecution requested a trial date and the remand of the defendants. The defence noted that bail had previously been granted by Justice Nwite and all conditions fulfilled, urging the court to uphold the existing bail. Prosecution, however, argued that the court could impose fresh bail conditions in light of the reassignment.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the previous bail was terminated due to the case reassignment and directed that new bail applications be filed. An oral bail request was rejected, given the seriousness of the charges. The court adjourned the matter to March 6, 2026, for the hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial, instructing the prosecution to grant the defence access to the defendants to prepare for trial.