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Tag: Malami

Malami Faces Fresh Investigation Over Arms Allegedly Found In Kebbi Residence

Wale busari04 mins

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), is facing a fresh investigation following the discovery of arms and ammunition allegedly found in his residence. According to a report by The Nation, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered the weapons during a search of Malami’s country home in Kebbi State. The EFCC was said to have handed over the arms to the Department of State Services, explaining that it lacks the constitutional mandate to investigate illegal possession of firearms. While the exact number of weapons could not be independently confirmed, sources disclosed that the quantity was substantial enough to trigger a full investigation by the DSS. This development comes amid Malami’s ongoing fraud trial. Last week, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and their son Abdulaziz Malami bail in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties. Despite the ruling, Malami remains at the Kuje Correctional Centre after failing to meet the bail conditions. Sources suggested that Malami’s inability to perfect his bail may be linked to the DSS investigation into the weapons allegedly found in his Birnin Kebbi residence. “The former minister is being separately investigated for allegedly having arms in his house in Birnin Kebbi. The inventory of the find has been handed over to the DSS. It is now left to Malami to explain to the DSS how he came about the arms. That is why he is yet to perfect his bail conditions,” a source said. Another source added that DSS operatives are reportedly around the Kuje Correctional Centre to invite Malami for questioning, noting that he may be delaying his release to avoid immediate arrest. An EFCC source also dismissed claims circulating on social media that Malami had returned to Kebbi State, insisting that he remains in custody. “By our records, the former AGF is still in custody. We have seen several misleading clips online about his alleged arrival and reception in Kebbi State,” the source said. The source further revealed that investigations into Malami’s activities began as far back as 2019 and have continued across different leaderships at the EFCC. “There is nothing vindictive about this investigation. It started under former EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu and continued through subsequent administrations to the current leadership. It is an inherited case, and Malami is fully aware of it.” Investigations into both the alleged arms discovery and the fraud charges against the former minister are ongoing.

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Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of 57 Properties Linked To Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government. The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the assets, valued at billions of naira, include luxury residential and commercial properties across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order was obtained on Wednesday, a day after the ruling. In his judgment, Justice Nwite declared: “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule One below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.” The judge directed that the order be published in a national newspaper to allow any interested party 14 days to contest the forfeiture before a final order is issued. The matter was adjourned to January 27 for a compliance report. The properties include high-value assets such as: Luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, currently valued at nearly N6 billion. Two-winged large storey building at Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels), purchased for N7 billion. Five-storey Meethaq Hotel in Jabi District, Abuja, valued at N8.4 billion after completion. Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, with 15 rooms, valued at N12.95 billion after rehabilitation. Various commercial shops, warehouses, bungalows, and plots of land in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi acquired between 2016 and 2024, with individual values ranging from N40 million to over N12 billion. Residential estates and multiple housing units in Birnin Kebbi, Abuja, and Kaduna, purchased between 2018 and 2023. Justice Nwite emphasized that the properties are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” and placed them under interim forfeiture while investigations continue. The ruling represents a significant move by the EFCC to recover assets suspected to have been obtained through illegal means.

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Court Grants ₦500 Million Bail To Abubakar Malami, Wife, And Son With Strict Conditions

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail of ₦500 million each to former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, his wife, and their son, setting strict conditions for their release. The court ordered that the sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, and Gwarinpa, with the property documents verified by the deputy chief registrar. In addition, the sureties are required to swear an affidavit of means. Malami was also directed to deposit his travel documents with the court and is barred from leaving the country without obtaining prior permission from the court.

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Court To Rule January 7 On Bail Applications Of Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami, Wife And Son

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7 to rule on the bail applications of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, and his wife, Bashir Asabe. Justice Emeka Nwite set the date on Friday after the defence, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, adopted their processes and presented arguments. The EFCC, in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, has charged Malami, his wife, and son with alleged money laundering. The former AGF, his wife, and son are listed as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively. The anti-graft agency claims the defendants carried out suspicious financial transactions and sought to conceal the illegal origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property purchases in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi. The alleged offences reportedly took place between 2015 and 2025, during Malami’s tenure as AGF under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the EFCC, Malami, Abdulaziz, and Asabe conspired to disguise the source of the funds, acquire properties indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

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Court Orders Remand of Abubakar Malami, Son and Wife, Pending Bail Hearing

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application. Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe—be held in custody alongside him. The ruling followed arguments from the defence team, led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution, represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN). Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission alleges that they conspired to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira. The charges reportedly cover multiple years and involve the use of corporate entities and bank accounts to launder funds, holding cash as collateral for loans, and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and other locations. The EFCC further claims that some of the alleged offences took place while Malami was serving as Attorney-General, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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EFCC To Arraign Former AGF Abubakar Malami Over N8.7 Billion Money Laundering Case

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. Malami is expected to face Justice Emeka Nwite, where he will enter a plea alongside his co-defendants. The prosecution will be led by Chief J. S. Okutepa, SAN. According to the charge sheet obtained by Channels Television, the EFCC has filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and associate Hajia Bashir Asabe. The charges include large-scale money laundering and illegal acquisition of assets valued at over N8.7 billion. The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from unlawful activities. The commission claims that the funds were moved through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over a period of nearly ten years, primarily between 2015 and 2025, during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General. The EFCC alleges that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025 and deposited an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021. They are also accused of holding N600 million in cash as collateral for a N500 million loan taken by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, with the commission asserting that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities. Further allegations include controlling N1.36 billion via the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd between November 2022 and October 2025, which the EFCC says was acquired unlawfully. Several counts also relate to the purchase of high-end properties in Abuja and other locations to conceal the origin of the funds. Reported acquisitions include: A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama (N500 million) Property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki (N700 million) Property in Jabi District (N850 million) Real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million) Properties in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million) Property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million) The EFCC claims that Malami also used N952 million in illicit funds to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, often through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership. Hajia Bashir Asabe, reportedly an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is said to have facilitated these transactions on Malami’s behalf. The commission maintains that the alleged actions violate the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. A list of witnesses, including investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives, has been submitted to support the case.

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FG Files Fresh N1 Billion Money Laundering Charges Against Former AGF Abubakar Malami And Son

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The Nigerian Government has brought fresh money laundering charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding N1 billion. The 16-count charge, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, names the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Hajia Bashir Asabe also listed as a co-defendant. According to court documents, the defendants are accused of handling, transferring, and concealing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Investigators reportedly traced N1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account linked to these transactions. The prosecution claims the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, allegedly used to obscure the source and movement of the money. Between 2015 and 2025, the defendants are said to have acquired several properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states with illicit funds, including luxury homes in high-profile areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Jabi, some of which were reportedly purchased while Malami was in office as Attorney-General. One of the counts alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide the unlawful origin of over N1.014 billion, violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The charge sheet also outlines the alleged use of bank accounts, hotel businesses, and real estate firms to retain, move, or disguise large sums of money, including payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes, and landed properties. Prosecutors argue that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” the funds were derived from illegal activities. Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and has faced multiple corruption allegations during his tenure, all of which he has denied. In a related matter, the Federal High Court had previously granted Malami interim bail in a separate EFCC case, requiring him to surrender his passport and provide two sureties. The current money laundering case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.

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FCT High Court Grants Interim Bail To Former AGF Abubakar Malami

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The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has granted interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ruling was issued on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, by Justice Bello Kawu during proceedings for Motion No. M/17220/2025. Malami’s bail was approved on the same terms previously set by the EFCC, which include surrendering his international passport and providing bail bonds through two sureties. The sureties are the Director-General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council and a serving member of the House of Representatives representing the Augie/Argungu Federal Constituency. Justice Kawu also reinstated the bail conditions previously fulfilled on November 28, 2025, requiring the same sureties and the passport surrender. The court granted the interim bail citing exceptional hardship and stated that it will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice. The case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for the substantive motion hearing.

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