The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, arraigned the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged money laundering offences involving about N8.71 billion.
The defendants were docked on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), informed the court that the matter was for the arraignment of the defendants on a 16-count charge dated and filed on December 23, 2025, and applied that the charges be read to them for their pleas to be taken. Counsel to the defendants, J.B. Daudu (SAN), did not oppose the application, following which Justice Nwite ordered the charges to be read.
Hajia Bashir Asabe Malami
Some of the counts alleged that the defendants, between 2022 and 2025, procured companies and bank accounts to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira, and took control of funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
After their pleas were taken, Iheanacho informed the court that the prosecution was ready for trial and disclosed that the defence had served a written bail application the previous day, adding that the EFCC needed time to respond formally.
However, Daudu, relying on Abiola v. FRN, made an oral bail application, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable and that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) does not mandatorily require a written bail application.
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami
He urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants.
Opposing the oral application, Iheanacho argued that the prosecution must be guided by affidavit evidence and maintained that submissions of counsel could not replace sworn evidence before a court of record.
He further contended that granting oral bail would amount to ambushing the prosecution, stressing that the charge involved serious economic crimes and that public interest should be considered. He added that the previous office held by Malami did not entitle him to preferential treatment.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution must be afforded adequate time to respond to the bail application.
He ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application and adjourned the case to January 2, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
